What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation traveling from Detroit toward Chicago, the flight crew experienced a mechanical failure involving the left engine. In response to the engine failure, the crew feathered the propeller and received authorization to divert to Kalamazoo Airport for an emergency landing.
While performing the final approach, the crew encountered difficulties extending the landing gear. To manage the situation, the captain initiated a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the pilot applied full power to the remaining right engine; however, the aircraft lost altitude and struck the ground in Portage, located approximately 2.5 miles southwest of the airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors regarding the flight's final moments. While the initial cause of the left engine failure remains undetermined, the investigation highlighted critical errors during the go-around attempt. Specifically, the pilot-in-command failed to maintain a safe flying speed while the flaps were fully extended. The findings also noted improper execution of emergency procedures and the potential misuse of flap settings during the climb attempt.