What happened
During a series of single-engine performance tests, an aircraft was operating with its inboard landing gear doors removed while being monitored by a chase plane. Following the conclusion of these maneuvers, the pilot encountered difficulty restarting the left engine, necessitating a return to the airfield for a single-engine approach. During the initial landing attempt, the aircraft overshot the runway, prompting the pilot to initiate a go-around.
Following this maneuver, the crew identified a malfunction regarding the landing gear. Observations from the chase aircraft indicated that the main landing gear was extended at an angle of approximately 75 to 80 degrees from the horizontal position. Additionally, ground personnel noted that the nose gear was tilted roughly 10 degrees aft of its standard locked position. As the aircraft traveled west-southwest away from the airport, it entered a slow descent while passing over several potential emergency landing areas. The flight ended when the aircraft struck a guy wire attached to a powerline pole located approximately 4 miles west-southwest of the airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several critical factors. The sequence began with a loss of engine power, which compromised the aircraft's performance capabilities. During the subsequent go-around, the pilot's approach and decision-making were noted as contributing elements. Furthermore, the investigation identified issues regarding the landing gear assembly and the inability to properly retract or maintain the gear in a stable configuration. The final collision was caused by the impact with the guy wire of a utility pole.