Four Killed in Training Flight Crash After Vortex Encounter (N3305L)

Accident Details

The accident occurred during a local training flight at Fort Worth-Greater Southwest (Amon Carter Field) Airport. The crew comprised three company pilots and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot. Following a normal approach to runway 13, the airplane passed over the threshold when it began to roll left and right. The right wing struck the runway surface, and the airplane rolled out of control to the right, crashing in flames. All four crew members were killed.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause was an encounter with a trailing vortex generated by a preceding "heavy" jet. This encounter resulted in an involuntary loss of control of the airplane during the final approach. Although the crew had been cautioned to expect turbulence, they did not have sufficient information to accurately evaluate the hazard or the possible location of the vortex. Additionally, existing FAA procedures for controlling VFR flight did not provide the same level of protection from a vortex encounter as was provided to flights receiving radar vectors in either IFR or VFR conditions.