What happened
During a scheduled flight originating in Topeka and intended for Larned, an single-engine airplane was performing a service that included a stop in Hutchinson. While the aircraft was operating at a low altitude during the cruise phase of the flight, it experienced a loss of lift and impacted a field. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were five injuries reported among the occupants, but no fatalities occurred.
At the moment of the accident, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 75 mph (65 knots).
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the aircraft entered a stall and subsequent spin. This aerodynamic stall was triggered because the crew did not maintain sufficient airspeed to sustain flight. Several contributing elements were identified in the accident, including:
- The presence of windshear
- Poorly judged decisions made during the flight
- A lack of focus on the immediate operation of the aircraft
- Failure to adhere to established good operating practices