No fatalities

1977-03-10: Beechcraft 90 King Air (N34F) — Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Company — Kankakee-Greater Kankakee, United States of America

Kankakee-Greater Kankakee, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 10, 1977, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration N34F) operated by Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Company was involved in an aviation accident near Kankakee-Greater Kankakee, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Undershoot and collision with dirt bank on final approach after the copilot misjudged distance and altitude. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781228248Data APIEditorial standards

On final approach, the crew failed to recognize low altitude, causing the nose wheel to strike a dirt bank 33 feet short of the runway threshold. The airplane crashed, injuring all five occupants, three seriously.

Overview

During the landing approach, the flight crew overlooked the decreasing altitude. The aircraft's nose gear contacted a mound of earth located 33 feet prior to the runway's beginning. This contact triggered a crash sequence.

Injuries

All five individuals aboard suffered injuries, with three categorized as serious.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the probable cause was an undershoot leading to a collision with a dirt bank on final approach. This was attributed to the copilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude.

Contributing Factors

Additional factors that contributed to the accident were: a delayed decision to execute a go-around, insufficient oversight of the flight operations, a suboptimal approach plan, and gusty winds measuring 26 knots.