History of Flight
On September 25, 2018, at 0613 eastern daylight time, a Beech 200, registration N241CK, collided with trees and terrain while executing an instrument approach to Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (OSC) in Oscoda, Michigan. The flight was operated by Kalitta Charters as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The aircraft was registered to Kalitta Equipment LLC. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
The flight originated from Willow Run Airport (YIP) in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at about 0513. According to Kalitta personnel, the pilot intended to pick up passengers at OSC before continuing to Memphis, Tennessee. After departure, the airplane climbed to a cruise altitude of approximately 13,500 feet at an en route airspeed of about 250 knots. At 0537, when the airplane was roughly 85 miles south of OSC, it began its initial descent.
At 0548, air traffic control vectored the airplane to the right to intercept the final approach course and cleared it for the VOR runway 6 approach at OSC. The last radar return was recorded at 0550, showing the airplane at an altitude of 2,200 feet and 8.1 miles from the runway threshold. The airplane impacted terrain 4.6 miles past that point, or about 3.5 miles from the runway threshold. The VOR runway 6 approach procedure calls for an altitude of 2,500 feet or higher during the procedure turn. Using the Oscoda altimeter setting, descent is made to 1,660 feet at Dogsy intersection, then to 1,100 feet—the minimum descent altitude—at Au Sable (ASP) intersection.
When the airplane failed to arrive at the airport as scheduled, Kalitta officials notified the Federal Aviation Administration. The wreckage was located around 1030.
Personnel Information
The 33-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating and type ratings in the Learjet, Dassault DA-20 Falcon, and Canadair 601 Challenger, along with commercial privileges for single-engine land airplanes. He also held flight instructor certificates for single-engine, multiengine, and instrument instruction, as well as a ground instructor certificate with an instrument rating. His first-class FAA airman medical certificate, issued March 9, 2018, had no restrictions or limitations. According to the operator, the pilot had logged 3,806 total flight hours, including 201 hours in the Beech 200. His most recent Part 135 proficiency check was completed satisfactorily on August 31, 2018, in the Dassault DA-20.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane, serial number BB272, was manufactured in 1977. It was powered by two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-41 turboprop engines, each rated at 850 shaft horsepower, driving Hartzell three-blade constant-speed propellers. The airplane was maintained under an Approved Airworthiness Inspection Program. The most recent inspection occurred on March 28, 2018, at an airframe time of 13,933.6 hours. At that time, the left engine had 13,912.7 total hours and 7,742.2 hours since overhaul; the right engine had 12,802.5 total hours and 6,747.3 hours since overhaul.
Meteorological Information
Weather observations from the Automated Weather Observing System at Oscoda were recorded as follows:
- 0555: Wind from 180° at 7 knots; 5 miles visibility in light rain; 400 ft overcast ceiling; temperature 18°C; dew point 18°C; altimeter 29.91 inHg.
- 0615: Wind from 200° at 6 knots; 4 miles visibility in drizzle; 400 ft overcast ceiling; temperature 19°C; dew point 19°C; altimeter 29.91 inHg.
- 0635: Wind from 200° at 7 knots; 4 miles visibility in heavy drizzle; 400 ft overcast ceiling; temperature 19°C; dew point 19°C; altimeter 29.92 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane impacted the tops of trees and descended at a 45° angle to the ground. A post-impact fire consumed the cockpit and cabin area. Numerous propeller contact marks were observed in the trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Actuator positions indicated the landing gear was extended and approach flaps were set. Fire and impact damage precluded examination of cockpit instruments.
Medical and Pathological Information
Due to the condition of the remains, autopsy and toxicology protocols were not performed.