Aftermath: Kandahar King Air

Peter Garrison

Monday, March 31, 2014 at 06:40 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An Air Force MC-12W crashed due to a stall during a climb, primarily caused by the pilot's use of the vertical speed (V/S) autopilot mode without adequate airspeed monitoring, leading to a loss of speed.
The situation was compounded by rapid power application at a high angle of attack, which induced an incipient spin, and the pilots' subsequent incorrect recovery actions, likely stemming from a misunderstanding of the aircraft's spiraling state.
The accident highlights the risks of V/S autopilot mode without vigilant airspeed monitoring, the impact of propeller effects during power changes, and the critical importance of applying nose-down pitch for spin or developed spiral recovery.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Since 2009, 42 Air Force MC-12Ws have been deployed to war zones in the Middle East. The MC-12W is a modified Beech King Air 350, externally similar except for a plethora of antennas and several unsightly bulges, including a huge belly pack. Communications and surveillance equipment and stations for two technicians replace the usual executive amenities.

Last April, an MC-12W crashed during a surveillance mission 110 miles northeast of its base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing its crew of four.