History of Flight
On October 5, 2019, at about 1637 eastern daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 602P, registration N326CW, was destroyed in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight.
According to an airport employee who fueled the airplane, during the pilot’s approach to Kokomo Municipal Airport (OKK), the pilot was asked if he wanted jet fuel and responded "yes." The employee noted that the airplane resembled a jet. After arrival, the employee parked the Jet A fuel truck in front of the airplane while the pilot remained inside. The employee again asked if the pilot wanted jet fuel, and the pilot affirmed. The employee then fueled the airplane with approximately 163 gallons of Jet A. The employee adapted the different-shaped nozzle by orienting it 90° over the wing fuel tank filler necks and about 45° over the fuselage filler necks. An initial spill of about 1 gallon occurred, but subsequent spillage was minimal.
A student pilot who had received recurrent training from the accident pilot reported arriving at 1045 and training lasted until after 1630. She drove the pilot to the airplane afterwards. The pilot visually checked the fuel tanks and gave a "thumbs-up." She did not witness the rest of the preflight or the takeoff. She heard the engines start and they sounded normal. The student pilot noted that winds favored runway 14, which was in use.
A witness on a nearby road observed a low-flying airplane traveling north to south. The airplane made a sharp left turn to the east, the left wing dipped low, and the airplane was lost from sight. Upon approaching the intersection near the accident site, the witness saw the airplane on the ground.
The airport employee, inside the fixed base operator building at about 1620, heard the engines start and they sounded typical. He reported no radio transmissions from the pilot during departure and no engine runup.
Personnel Information
No pilot records were provided to the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge despite two requests to the pilot’s wife. The pilot had been involved in a prior accident on November 28, 2008 (NTSB ID: ERA09CA073). On December 2, 2016, the FAA terminated the pilot’s designation as a pilot examiner due to sub-standard performance. As of his last airman medical exam on November 9, 2018, the pilot reported 7,500 total flight hours and 200 hours in the preceding six months.
Aircraft Information
The airplane owner stated he was to receive initial training from In Flight Review, Inc., but it did not occur. He never gave permission for the accident pilot to fly the airplane and declined to provide details on who received the keys.
Wreckage and Impact Information
On-scene examination revealed a wreckage path about 328 ft long along an approximate heading of 046° on a dry, hard-surfaced fallow bean field. The wreckage and path were consistent with an accelerated stall. A clear liquid consistent with Jet A was found in a fuselage tank and fuel lines leading to both engines. Several engine spark plugs showed damage consistent with detonation. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The landing gear was retracted.
Additional Information
The Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-38) notes that jet fuel in a reciprocating engine may allow the engine to start and run temporarily, then fail catastrophically. The fuel truck used had "JET A" markings.