On November 16, 1978, a Beechcraft G18S (registration N901PC) operated by Festus Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Hays, United States of America during landing or approach. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered a stall during final approach due to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying speed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A cargo flight operating from Wichita crashed during its final approach to Hays, resulting in the loss of both occupants.
What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation departing from Wichita, an aircraft was performing its final approach into Hays when the pilot lost control of the plane. The aircraft entered a steep dive and struck the ground several miles from the runway threshold, where it subsequently caught fire. The impact resulted in two fatalities, with no survivors among the crew.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was an aerodynamic stall occurring during the final approach phase because the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed. Several environmental factors contributed to the difficulty of the flight conditions, including:
Presence of icing, specifically sleet and freezing rain
Low cloud ceilings
Reduced visibility of three miles or less
Dense fog
Probable cause
The aircraft entered a stall during final approach due to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying speed.