The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
JA Mach 3 LLC
Location: Wichita, KS
Accident Number: CEN21LA302
Date & Time: July 1, 2021, 19:20 Local
Registration: N10HK
Aircraft: Piper AEROSTAR 600
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On July 1, 2021, about 1920 central daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 600, N10HK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Wichita, Kansas. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported to air traffic control, about five miles north of the Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO), Wichita, Kansas, that the two Lycoming IO-540 engines were having issues after lowering the flaps to slow down the airplane for entry into the traffic pattern at AAO. The pilot raised the flaps thinking that the fuel ports may have been uncovered and he then shut down the right engine to preserve the remaining fuel to make it to the airport. The airplane was unable to continue with powered flight with just the left engine operating and the pilot performed a forced landing to a muddy wheat field about 2.5 miles north of AAO. The pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The Federal Aviation Administration traveled to the accident site to examine the airplane. A continuity check of the flight and engine controls revealed no abnormalities. The master switch was turned on and the fuel gauges showed a zero indication. There was no evidence of fuel at the accident site or in the airplane. The wreckage is pending recovery for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N10HK
Model/Series: AEROSTAR 600
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAAO,1421 ft msl
Observation Time: 18:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /20°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3600 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 20°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Chadron, NE (CDR)
Destination: Wichita, KS
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 37.789413,-97.224117 (est)
“About 7:13 tonight, a caller to 911 reported a plane crash near 254 and Greenwich. Officers from the police department and sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a Piper PA-60-600 Aerostar just north of 254 in the field that had crashed, one pilot on board,” said Sgt. Danny Mlagan , Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.
Even though the plane was destroyed, Mlagan said the pilot was in good spirits and didn’t go to the hospital.
“The NSTB and FAA have been notified, and they are enroute out here to do what they do,” Mlagan said. “We will just be out here for scene security the rest of the night until they release us.”
Mlagan said they suspect some type of mechanical failure as the cause of the crash. He said the pilot was a man in his 30s who was flying in from Nebraska to Wichita.
The Wichita Fire Department shared the following tweets on Thursday evening.
The fire department said the pilot has refused EMS treatment.
Wichita and Sedgwick County firefighters have responded to the call of a plane crash north of Wichita.
The Wichita Fire Department said the plane is located near 53rd Street North and Greenwich Road.
“Injuries appear to be minor and there are no HazMat concerns,” said the fire department in a tweet.
The sheriff has closed Greenwich between 53rd St. N. and K-254 while crews work the scene.
Got down okay and refused EMS treatment. Photo at link - might buff out..
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kwch.com/2021/07/02/emergency-crews-respond-report-plane-crash-north-wichita/
No hazmat concerns. That usually points in one direction.
ReplyDeleteHate to see another Aerostar lost. Bad fuel planning if he was dry tanks after being airborne for only one hour forty-five minutes.
DeleteDeparture airport for that leg of the flight day was Sioux Falls. Started the multi-leg trip from home base in Arizona and stopped earlier in Nebraska.
Lots of flights during June and frequent visits in Wichita, probably very familiar with suitable open land on approach, aware of and able to avoid those high tension power lines and walk away.
Sioux Falls - Wichita:
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N10HK/history/20210701/2223Z/KFSD/L%2037.79068%20-97.21667
Chadron to Sioux Falls:
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N10HK/history/20210701/1937Z/KCDR/KFSD
Phoenix to Chadron:
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N10HK/history/20210701/1505Z/KDVT/KCDR
Another rare piston speed demon Aerostar lost. What a shame. Glad the pilot is okay though. Can someone please just buy one and put it in the civilian aircraft section of some aviation museum? They will not be around forever and there are only two currently for sale out there on aircraft sales websites.
ReplyDelete