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 an autopilot-assisted climb using the vertical speed (V/S) mode, resulting from insufficient airspeed and developing into a rapidly rotating spiral.
The accident highlights the risks of using V/S autopilot mode for climbing without constant airspeed monitoring and ample power, as it can lead to a stall by maintaining climb rate through increasing the angle of attack.
It underscores the critical importance of proper recovery techniques for spins and developed spirals, which require a nose-down command and rolling to level the wings, often counter to what visual cues or some instrument indications might suggest.

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.