Accident Details
The aircraft was substantially damaged when it collided with a hedgerow during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Wichita, Kansas. The loss of engine power occurred approximately 4.5 minutes after departing Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT). The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Federal Express Corporation and operated by Baron Aviation Services Incorporated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on an instrument flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cargo flight destined for Garden City Regional Airport (GCK).
At 0734:35, the pilot requested an instrument flight rules clearance from ICT to GCK. Radar track data indicated the airplane departed runway 19R around 0737:45. At 0738:18, the tower controller instructed the pilot to switch to departure control frequency. The departure controller cleared the flight direct to GCK and to climb to 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane climbed on a westerly heading until 0742:02, then began a left 180-degree turn back toward the departure airport. Radar data showed the airplane had reached 4,700 ft msl at the start of the turn.
At 0742:13, the pilot transmitted that the airplane had experienced a loss of engine power and was attempting to return to ICT. At 0742:31, the pilot asked for nearby airports as he could not reach ICT. The departure controller provided vectors to an airstrip about 2.5 miles southeast of the airplane's position. At 0743:46, the pilot advised he could not see the airstrip because the windshield was contaminated with oil. At 0744:57, the pilot's final transmission stated he was landing in a grass field. The airplane was located about 2.2 miles south of ICT at 1,600 ft msl (300 ft agl) at the time of the last transmission. Radar data continued northeast another half mile before contact was lost at 0745:15.
Witness Account
A witness reported observing the accident airplane overfly his residence. He recalled that the propeller was not rotating and he did not hear the engine operating. The airplane landed in a nearby agricultural field on a northeast heading. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a hedgerow at the northern edge of the field. The witness indicated that the pilot was unresponsive upon his arrival at the accident site, and there was a small grass fire 8 to 10 feet in front of the main wreckage.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause was determined to be the total loss of engine power as a result of a fractured compressor turbine blade due to high-cycle fatigue.