Cessna 208B Destroyed in Near-Vertical Impact Near La Crosse, Kansas (N274PM)

Accident Overview and Flight History On March 17, 2020, at approximately 0919 CDT, a Cessna 208B, registration N274PM, was destroyed in an accident near La Crosse, Kansas. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand cargo flight for Planemasters Ltd. under flight number PMS1670. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) at approximately 0751 CDT under an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan, with Hays Regional Airport (HYS) as the destination. Radar and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated that the aircraft lost tracking at approximately 0831 CDT while descending through 4,000 feet during vectoring for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 34. The pilot subsequently executed a missed approach, and the aircraft was re-acquired by radar and ADS-B at approximately 0843 CDT. The pilot then indicated an intention to attempt the ILS approach to runway 34 a second time. At approximately 0853 CDT, radar and ADS-B data were lost again as the aircraft descended on the instrument approach. The aircraft was re-acquired by radar at approximately 0859 CDT, northwest of HYS. At that time, the pilot stated an intention to divert to Great Bend Airport (GBD), located approximately 36 nautical miles to the southeast. Radar and ADS-B data showed the aircraft beginning a turn to the south toward GBD while climbing to approximately 7,000 feet. At approximately 0918 CDT, the aircraft began a descent and left turn. The last radar and ADS-B targets were observed at approximately 0918:48 CDT. A witness located approximately 0.68 miles northwest of the accident site reported first hearing the aircraft and initially mistaking it for a crop duster. Upon going outside, the witness observed the aircraft descending out of a low overcast cloud layer at a high rate of descent. The aircraft then abruptly transitioned into a steep climb before re-entering the clouds. A few seconds later, the witness heard the aircraft impact terrain and responded to the accident site. ## Personnel and Meteorological Information At the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated over 9,100 total flight hours, including 400 hours in the Cessna 208. The pilot also had approximately 700 hours in actual instrument meteorological conditions. At 0825 CDT, the HYS automated weather observation service (AWOS) reported wind from 080° at 11 knots, visibility of 1 statute mile, and overcast clouds at 200 feet above ground level. At 0841 CDT, the HYS AWOS indicated that visibility had dropped to ¼ statute mile in fog. ## Wreckage, Impact, and Communications The wreckage was discovered in a field, with the aircraft’s tail and wings visible above ground. The forward fuselage and engine section were buried several feet under the terrain, consistent with a near-vertical, high-speed impact. The main landing gear was bent aft toward the tail, with the left and right main wheels protruding from the ground. The smell of Jet-A fuel was present at the accident site. A post-accident wreckage examination revealed no mechanical irregularities or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. A review of archived air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that around 0906 CDT, the pilot began making unintelligible radio communications that air traffic controllers stated were unreadable. At 0914 CDT, ATC contacted another Planemasters aircraft to inquire if that pilot knew the condition of the radio in the accident aircraft. The controller noted that the pilot “sounds very garbled and difficult to understand almost uh almost hypoxic but that's impossible since he's at seven thousand feet uh is there something with the radio in that airplane do you know anything off the top of your head?” At approximately 0915 CDT, the controller asked the accident pilot if he was turning directly to GBD. After an unintelligible response, the controller stated, “alright plane master sixteen seventy it's very difficult to understand there might be something wrong with uh your cockpit or your pressurization plane master sixteen seventy oxygen oxygen.” About a minute later, the pilot was more easily understood, and the controller stated that he “sounded way better.” At approximately 0918 CDT, ATC made the following transmission with no response from the pilot: “plane master sixteen seventy you've lost uh sixteen hundred feet and uh going off your course is everything alright?” No response was received. After attempting to relay communications through other aircraft in the area, an unintelligible response was received from the accident aircraft at approximately 0920 CDT. ATC then made numerous transmissions to the accident pilot urging him to utilize oxygen and open a window. No further communications were received from the accident aircraft. ## Medical and Pathological Information According to the autopsy performed by the XXIV Judicial District of Kansas Deputy Coroner, the cause of death was fragmentation of the body by blunt impact, and the manner of death was accident. There was extensive damage; the brain and majority of the heart were not available for examination. The pathologist reported the presence of hypertensive cardiovascular disease based on the microscopic appearance of the kidneys. No other significant natural disease was identified. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified atorvastatin and trimethoprim in liver and muscle tissues. Neither of these drugs is considered impairing.