What happened
During the final approach phase at Rapid City Airport, the pilot encountered significant wind gusts that led to a loss of control. The aircraft type impacted a field, where the impact resulted in a large explosion. There were nine fatalities recorded among the occupants of the plane.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the flight conditions and aircraft configuration. The pilot failed to properly compensate for wind conditions, which led to an inability to maintain the necessary flying speed. Additionally, reports indicated that preflight preparations were insufficient and that unfavorable wind components played a role in the mishap.
Further analysis revealed that the aircraft was improperly loaded. Specifically, gusting winds reaching up to 20 knots pushed the aircraft beyond its permitted rearward center of gravity limits, contributing to the loss of control.