Incident Overview
On December 16, 2008, at 18:18 UTC, a Beechcraft B300 Super King Air 350 with registration F-GKYY was involved in an accident at the Orléans Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel aerodrome in France. The aircraft, owned and operated by Dexia Sofaxis, was on a scheduled business trip from Toulouse Blagnac to its base in Orléans. The flight carried two pilots and seven passengers, all of whom were employees of the operating company.
Flight Progression and Accident Sequence
The crew departed Toulouse at 17:00 UTC. Although the aircraft is certified for single-pilot operations, the company policy required a two-pilot crew, with the co-pilot acting as pilot-in-command. The flight proceeded in instrument meteorological conditions, reaching Flight Level 260 where the outside air temperature was approximately -36°C. As night fell, the pilot initiated a Locator approach to Runway 23.
During the initial part of the final approach at an altitude of 1,800 feet, the aircraft entered a layer of clouds and penetrated it at approximately 800 feet. During the flare maneuver, as the engines were reduced in power, the aircraft stalled at an altitude of forty feet above the ground. It subsequently made a hard contact with the runway on its main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest on the parking area without further incident.
Aircraft and Crew Details
The Beechcraft B300 Super King Air 350 (serial number FL357) was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 1,823 flight hours. The captain, a 59-year-old male with over 9,800 hours of experience, and the co-pilot, a 29-year-old male with 643 hours of experience, were both licensed professional pilots.
Meteorological Conditions and Damage
Météo France data indicated the presence of saturated stratus layers containing supercooled water droplets in the vicinity of the aerodrome. The local METAR reports noted fog and overcast conditions. The aircraft sustained heavy damage as a result of the hard landing, although no fatalities or serious injuries were reported among the crew or passengers.