Narrative:
A Beechcraft, B200 airplane, N860J, impacted terrain near Lake Coleman, Texas, in open ranch land. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to TLC Air, LLC and operated by Lauren Engineers & Constructors, Inc.
The airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 35L at Abilene Regional Airport, Texas. Shortly afterwards the pilot was instructed to climb to 12,000 ft and was then cleared to climb to FL230.
The pilot reported to the controller that they encountered freezing drizzle and light rime icing on the climb from 6,400 ft to 8,000 ft.
As the airplane climbed through 11,600 ft, the pilot reported that they were having an issue with faulty deicing equipment and needed to return to the airport. The controller instructed the pilot to descend to 11,000 ft and cleared them direct to Abilene Airport. The flight was then instructed to descend to 7,000 ft and asked if there was an emergency. The pilot responded in the negative and stated that they blew a breaker when they encountered icing conditions, and that it was not resetting.
The controller then instructed the pilot to descend to 5,000 ft and to expect the ILS runway 35R approach. The controller then instructed the pilot to turn to a heading of 310. Shortly afterwards the controller asked the pilot if they were turning to the assigned heading; the pilot responded that they were having issues with faulty instruments. When controller asked the aircraft to report their altitude, the pilot reported that they were at 4,700 ft. The controller then instructed the pilot to maintain 5,000 ft. The pilot responded he was "pulling up". There was no further communication with the pilot.
Preliminary review of the airplane's radar track showed the airplane's departure from ABI and the subsequent turn and southeast track towards its destination. The track appeared as a straight line before a right turn was observed. The turn radius decreased before the flight track disappeared.
The airplane impacted terrain in a right wing low attitude, followed by the right engine, then left engine. The wreckage path was on an initial heading of 320°, and continued for about 570 ft. The wreckage was highly fragmented and spread-out along the wreckage path.
Probable Cause: "The pilots loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilots distraction with a "popped" circuit breaker and communications with air traffic control."
» brownwoodnews.com
» Flightaware track
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 20 February 2020 |
| Time: | 06:03 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft B200 King Air |
| Operator: | Lauren Engineers & Constructors, Inc. |
| Registration: | N860J |
| MSN: | BB-1067 |
| First flight: | 1982 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Lake Coleman, TX ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Abilene Regional Airport, TX (ABI/KABI), United States of America |
| Harlingen-Valley International Airport, TX (HRL/KHRL), United States of America |
A Beechcraft, B200 airplane, N860J, impacted terrain near Lake Coleman, Texas, in open ranch land. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to TLC Air, LLC and operated by Lauren Engineers & Constructors, Inc.
The airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 35L at Abilene Regional Airport, Texas. Shortly afterwards the pilot was instructed to climb to 12,000 ft and was then cleared to climb to FL230.
The pilot reported to the controller that they encountered freezing drizzle and light rime icing on the climb from 6,400 ft to 8,000 ft.
As the airplane climbed through 11,600 ft, the pilot reported that they were having an issue with faulty deicing equipment and needed to return to the airport. The controller instructed the pilot to descend to 11,000 ft and cleared them direct to Abilene Airport. The flight was then instructed to descend to 7,000 ft and asked if there was an emergency. The pilot responded in the negative and stated that they blew a breaker when they encountered icing conditions, and that it was not resetting.
The controller then instructed the pilot to descend to 5,000 ft and to expect the ILS runway 35R approach. The controller then instructed the pilot to turn to a heading of 310. Shortly afterwards the controller asked the pilot if they were turning to the assigned heading; the pilot responded that they were having issues with faulty instruments. When controller asked the aircraft to report their altitude, the pilot reported that they were at 4,700 ft. The controller then instructed the pilot to maintain 5,000 ft. The pilot responded he was "pulling up". There was no further communication with the pilot.
Preliminary review of the airplane's radar track showed the airplane's departure from ABI and the subsequent turn and southeast track towards its destination. The track appeared as a straight line before a right turn was observed. The turn radius decreased before the flight track disappeared.
The airplane impacted terrain in a right wing low attitude, followed by the right engine, then left engine. The wreckage path was on an initial heading of 320°, and continued for about 570 ft. The wreckage was highly fragmented and spread-out along the wreckage path.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause: "The pilots loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilots distraction with a "popped" circuit breaker and communications with air traffic control."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» sanangelolive.com» brownwoodnews.com
» Flightaware track
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line is connecting ADS-B datapoints from FlightAware.
Distance from Abilene Regional Airport, TX to Harlingen-Valley International Airport, TX as the crow flies is 710 km (444 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Abilene Regional Airport, TX to Harlingen-Valley International Airport, TX as the crow flies is 710 km (444 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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