What happened
During a nighttime approach into Tullahoma Airport, the aircraft's left engine ignited. The flight crew managed to suppress the flames and successfully feathered the propeller to mitigate further issues. During the landing attempt, the pilot failed to align with the runway, prompting the captain to execute a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a stall and crashed.
The accident resulted in two injuries and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that a failure in a fuel line led to the fire in the left engine. Several contributing elements were noted during the sequence of events, including:
- Presence of loose parts within the engine compartment
- Failure to maintain an appropriate flying speed during the maneuver
- Low cloud ceiling and visibility obstructions
- Potential pre-existing or newly occurring aircraft damage
- The specific failure of a fuel line