What happened
On the morning of the accident, Flight 16 departed Kansas City, Missouri, destined for Minneapolis via several intermediate stops including Omaha and Sioux City. The aircraft, a convair 440 (implied by context/type), was operating with a crew of three and one trainee, carrying 2-1 passengers and cargo. During the first leg of the journey, the flight landed normally in Omaha; however, during the landing roll, the plane drifted off the right side of the runway, striking a runway light. Following an inspection that revealed no damage, the aircraft departed Omaha for Sioux City.
While en route to Sioux City, the flight operated under instrument flight rules amidst low visibility and light snow. Upon approaching the Sioux City airport, the crew requested permission to land on Runway 13. After being cleared for the approach, the aircraft was observed by ground witnesses performing a left climbing turn toward the north. During this maneuver, air traffic control advised the pilot of a potential 90-degree crosswind if they chose to use Runway 17 instead. Shortly after these communications, the aircraft crashed approximately 600 feet north and west of the approach end of Runway 17. The impact triggered an immediate fire that destroyed the plane.
The accident resulted in 16 fatalities (comprising three crew members and 13 passengers) and 9 serious injuries.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the aircraft experienced a stall during a left turn performed at an altitude too low to allow for successful recovery.