King Air 90 down in Mount Airy, NC.

[400A]

A King Air 90, N57WR has crashed in Mount Airy, NC.
6 people killed. Photos on wsbtv.com. Aircraft had departed Polk county Ga.

So sad. God Bless all on board as well as their family and friends.

Aircraft was registered to Blue Sky Airways, inc. Crash happened around 11:30 this morning.

 

[viper548]

God bless all involved

 

[400A]

SN# LJ-1678, a 2003 C90-B

 

[Limeyflyer]

www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N57wr

 

[Buckeye]

Sorry to hear this, my prayers go out to their families.

 

[JeffSKDTW]

Boyette said the plane was attempting to land when it missed on its approach and may have been trying to circle back for another attempt before it crashed.

...

Icy conditions were reported in the area at the time of the crash.

I wonder if they were picking up icing. Although I'd still expect a 90 to carry a bit of ice.

Strange.

 

[JeffSKDTW]

Direct link: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15196240/detail.html

 

[goodgig]

The wreckage sure did not spread very far.

My condolences to anyone who knew these souls.

 

[V1 Rotate]

Any thoughts on why there was no fire?

 

[sonicyouth]

We were in INT when it happened. Low ceilings and ice in the area may have been a factor.

 

[blzr]

Wx in the time frame of the crash

KMWK 011741Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM -DZ OVC001 02/00 A2987 RMK AO2 P0002
KMWK 011721Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM DZ BKN001 OVC010 02/00 A2989 RMK AO2 P0002
[FONT=Monospace,Courier]KMWK 011704Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM +DZ BKN003 OVC008 01/M01 A2989 RMK AO2 P0002[/FONT]
[FONT=Monospace,Courier]KMWK 011641Z AUTO 00000KT 2 1/2SM +DZ BKN003 OVC006 01/00 A2990 RMK AO2 P0002[/FONT]
[FONT=Monospace,Courier]KMWK 011601Z AUTO 00000KT 4SM +RA OVC006 01/M01 A2992 RMK AO2[/FONT]


The GPS 36 is a 500/1 approach.

 

[CaravanMan]

Ah man, that's sucks. Very sad to hear.

Why would anyone shoot that approach at OVC001? You know you'll never see it, so why get down and play in ice? Gah, I don't mean to second guess anyone. It's very sad. Be safe out there everyone.

 

[400A]

Any thoughts on why there was no fire?

Not unheard of. The amount of foam on the ground says they were worried about a fire at least.

 

[rumrnr78]

Could this be a classic example of having the visibility (for the approach) but the ceiling was too low?
Not sure if some of the posters know but ceiling is not controlling for an approach. Prayers to the family.

 

[blzr]

Could this be a classic example of having the visibility (for the approach) but the ceiling was too low?
Not sure if some of the posters know but ceiling is not controlling for an approach. Prayers to the family.

You are right, I would shoot a 200 -1/2 ILS at a big airport with 001ovc -1mi. But at a small airport with a 500/1 GPS? that's just not right. Maybe they were low on gas anh HAD to get down. Other than that, why even attempt it?

 

[probablecause]

I went to high school with passenger Hal Echols daughter. Sadly, she lost her mom a few years back as well. I remember that family being so caring. So sad.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ah man, that's sucks. Very sad to hear.

Why would anyone shoot that approach at OVC001?

Because it likely wasn't 100 over when he shot it.

The last FlightAware radar track is at 1625Z. The METAR at that time indicates 600 over and 4 in heavy rain.

100 overcase came an hour and 15 minutes later.

Now, that's not excessively above mins, and in my opinion the PIC would have to have his A-game in play, but with just the info we have at this point, I'd have likely shot that approach unless there was other intel available to indicate reasons not to shoot it.

 

[CaravanMan]

Yeah, makes sense. I didn't look at the time on FlightAware.

 

[SNAFU22]

God Speed

 

[blzr]

Anyone know the owner/pic's total time? I would be curious. The GPS approach is fairly strait foreward, I didn't look at the NDB though.

If he was doing the NDB, what are the chances that the pilot just got disoriented, got behind the aircraft and....well. I ask this only because the wreckage all seemed to be in the same general area and not strewn across the whole county.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's your basic straight in NDB with a PT. However, Cat B mins for the NDB are 800 and a 1 1/4. That wouldn't have gotten him down low enough. The GPS is 500/1 for the same Cat so he was "likely shooting that approach or there would have been no reason to even try, IMHO.

The METAR shows just slightly above the ceiling for the GPS procedure. It would have been close and not surprising at all if he missed due to not seeing it in the heavy rain or seeing it to late to be in a position to land. Only 4300 feet of pavement in front of you, and by all accounts this was a single-pilot operation. While he "may" have had someone riding shot-gun, it's been my experience in the same environment that unless that person is trained, it's safer if they keep quiet on the approach.