Accident Overview
The aircraft was destroyed following an in-flight collision with terrain under night instrument meteorological conditions. The private pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, and three passengers sustained fatal injuries.
Flight and Weather Conditions
The flight encountered a rapidly moving line of thunderstorms after takeoff and was attempting to return to the departure airport at the time of the accident. About 15 minutes prior to the accident, the pilot contacted the Wichita Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). He reported his position as 4 miles north of the airport and stated his intention to conduct a local flight. The AFSS briefer informed him that an area of "pretty severe thunderstorms" was immediately to the west and estimated that the storms would arrive within the next 5 minutes. The briefer added, "I would not recommend . . . flying around the . . . area at this time." The pilot replied that he was turning around and returning to the airport. No further communications were received from the pilot.
Witness Reports
A witness reported seeing an aircraft near her home about 10 minutes before the accident. She noted that the wind increased, dirt began blowing, and it started raining, reducing visibility to the point where she could not see across the field in front of her house. Another witness stated that around the time of the accident, he and his wife were watching a thunderstorm. They heard a low-flying aircraft approaching from the east. He looked out a window and saw a plane at low altitude. As the aircraft banked toward the northwest, a bolt of lightning struck near the house. The accident site was discovered the following morning in a field immediately north of his residence.
Meteorological Data
Weather recorded at the departure airport about 5 minutes after the accident indicated northwest winds gusting to 23 knots, 1/2 statute mile visibility with thunderstorms, broken clouds at 200 feet above ground level (agl), and overcast clouds at 900 feet agl. A convective SIGMET was in effect for severe thunderstorms moving through the area, with storm tops exceeding 45,000 feet mean sea level, moving east at 30 knots. Weather radar data depicted a line of thunderstorms moving through the area. Approximately 30 minutes before the accident, the eastern edge of the thunderstorm line arrived over the area. Radar imagery recorded about 25 minutes after the accident showed that the area had passed and was located about 15 miles to the east.
Pilot Medical and Regulatory Information
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aero Medical Institute toxicology report indicated that the pilot's blood alcohol level was 54 mg/dL (0.054 percent by weight). FAA regulations prohibit any person from acting as a pilot of a civil aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or greater by weight.