ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 235315
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 20 April 2020 |
| Time: | 09:50 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31T1 Cheyenne I |
| Owner/operator: | FMR Aviation LLC |
| Registration: | N926K |
| MSN: | 31T8004046 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4696 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney PT6A-11 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | NW of Billings Logan International Airport (BIL/KBIL), MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Billings-Logan International Airport, MT (BIL/KBIL) |
| Billings-Logan International Airport, MT (BIL/KBIL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On April 20, 2020 about 0950 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1 airplane, N926K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident about 1-1/2 miles west of Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local flight.
Air traffic control communications revealed that the pilot requested to take off from the departure runway so that he could perform traffic pattern work and return for a landing on the left adjacent runway. Shortly after takeoff and while departing to the west, the pilot was instructed twice to enter the left traffic pattern, with no response. Radar data showed the airplane departing the runway and remaining on runway centerline heading for the length of the flight. The airplane climbed to about 100 ft above ground level and the airplane’s groundspeed increased to 81 knots soon after departure then decreased to 70 knots before dropping off radar. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane depart the airport at a low climb rate and slow airspeed. Shortly after, the airplane flew out of view and a column of smoke was seen on the horizon.
Accident site documentation identified symmetrical propeller strikes on the ground consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a shallow, nose-up, wings level attitude. Examination of the airframe and both engines did not reveal any evidence of a preaccident mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal performance to allow for sufficient airspeed and climb rate after takeoff. Both the engines exhibited damage signatures consistent with the engines producing symmetrical power at impact.
The pilot’s most recent flight in the accident airplane was 2 months before the accident. The pilot was reported to have problems with understanding the accident airplane’s avionics system; however, it is unknown if he was having these problems during the accident flight. Review of the pilot’s medical history revealed no significant medical concerns or conditions that could pose a hazard to flight.
Probable Cause: The degraded airplane performance after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined from available evidence.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/plane-crashes-near-billings-rod-and-gun-club/article_aa065df6-8b58-59db-a2bf-46cf861bee27.html
https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-news/plane-crashes-near-billings-airport
https://www.kulr8.com/top_story/developing-incident-near-billings-airport/article_538eb244-8321-11ea-8766-4348bbe0d076.html
NTSB
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/n926k#24621822
https://www.liveatc.net/search/?icao=KBIL
https://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/072/072022.jpg (photo)
Location
Images:
Photos: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Apr-2020 16:59 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:24 | harro | Updated [Time, Location, Narrative] |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:29 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Phase, Departure airport, Source] |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:32 | harro | Updated [Operator, Narrative] |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:43 | RobertMB | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:54 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, Narrative] |
| 20-Apr-2020 17:54 | harro | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 06-May-2020 07:50 | Captain Adam | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation