What happened
A night cargo operation traveling from Lawton to Kansas City experienced a critical emergency during its departure from Tulsa Airport. Immediately following liftoff, the left engine of the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure. The crew attempted to manage the emergency, but they were unable to feather the propeller because congealed oil prevented the mechanism from functioning correctly.
As a result of the engine failure and the inability to adjust the propeller, the aircraft lost sufficient lift and entered a stall. During the descent, the plane struck power cables before impacting the ground. The impact resulted in a massive explosion that completely destroyed the airframe. There were two fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to mechanical and operational failures. The primary cause was the failure of the left engine during the initial climb phase. This failure was linked to internal structural damage, specifically involving the failure of the master and connecting rods within the engine.
Several secondary factors were noted in the official report:
- The inability to feather the propeller due to congealed oil
- Presence of high obstructions (power cables) in the flight path
- Improper maintenance practices
- Deficiencies regarding company-maintained equipment and services
- Operational failures involving known equipment deficiencies