What happened
On November 25, 1983, a charter flight carrying a TV sports production crew was conducting a multi-leg journey through Midland, Fort Worth, and Wichita Falls, Texas. The final leg of the mission was a return trip to Midland. While approaching runway 16R on a half-mile final, the pilot communicated intentions for the landing. Observers noted that the approach appeared routine until the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 30 to 50 feet above the ground.
At this low altitude, the pilot attempted a go-around maneuver. During this process, the aircraft transitioned into an extreme nose-high attitude and entered a left bank. This sequence led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to crash. The accident resulted in eight fatalities with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage revealed no evidence of prior mechanical failures or defects. Flight simulations conducted to replicate the flight path suggested that the aircraft's behavior was consistent with the application of full aft yoke pressure combined with full nose-up trim throughout the maneuver.
Medical examinations provided conflicting data regarding the crew and passengers. A blood test for a passenger in the front right seat indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.144%. While the pilot's blood showed no presence of drugs or alcohol, microscopic tissue analysis revealed physiological changes that could suggest a myocardial infarction, though investigators could not definitively confirm this as the cause.