What happened
During a cargo operation traveling from Las Vegas, an aircraft was performing its final approach into Phoenix-Sky Harbor Airport when it experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. In an effort to manage the emergency, the crew attempted to execute an unplanned landing. However, the aircraft type lost sufficient altitude during the maneuver and struck the ground before reaching the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe, which was declared a write-off. Both members of the flight crew sustained serious injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary cause was a controlled flight into terrain following the encounter with vortex turbulence. This turbulence triggered significant wingrock, which led to several critical mechanical failures:
- The movement of the aircraft caused fuel starvation within the system.
- Air entered the fuel lines because the fuel sump pickups were uncovered.
- Both engines subsequently failed due to the lack of consistent fuel flow.