On June 3, 1977, a Beechcraft E18 (registration N68A) operated by Leone I. Van Torne was involved in an aviation accident near Springfield, United States of America during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Stall on approach while attempting a go-around procedure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A twin-engine airplane stalled and crashed short of the runway during final approach to Springfield Airport. The pilot, sole occupant, was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. The probable cause was a stall during a go-around attempt.
Accident Summary
On final approach to Springfield Airport, a twin-engine airplane became unstable and lost speed and altitude. The aircraft subsequently stalled and crashed short of the runway, resulting in its destruction by fire. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed in the accident.
Investigation Findings
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was a stall on approach while the pilot was attempting a go-around procedure. Contributing factors identified included a delayed initiation of the go-around, failure to maintain flying speed, and improper loading of the aircraft. The center of gravity (CofG) range for the aircraft was specified as 107 to 120.5 inches, but the computed CofG at the time of the accident was 100.2 inches, indicating the aircraft was loaded outside the approved limits.