Investigation Summary
The flight was a corporate trip for Eastern Foods Inc., operating as a Hooters aircraft. During the descent into the Tri-Cities area, the pilot was warned of light to moderate icing conditions. Radar data indicated that as the aircraft approached the outer marker, it slowed significantly, consistent with a power reduction or loss. The aircraft then entered a steep, spiraling descent from the cloud base and impacted a meadow 5.5 miles northeast of the airport. Post-accident examination revealed that both Garrett TPE331 engines were not operating at the time of impact and both propellers had been feathered by the pilot. Although the engine inlet anti-ice annunciator lights were found to be illuminated, investigators concluded the system was likely activated too late. The manufacturer had previously warned that ice could accumulate in the engine inlets if anti-ice was not used in moisture below 40°F (4°C), leading to flameouts when the ice eventually shed into the engine during descent into warmer air.
Final Conclusions
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on March 16, 1994. The probable cause was identified as the pilot's failure to follow procedures for the engine inlet anti-ice system and continuous ignition in icing conditions, leading to ice ingestion and total loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while managing the engine failure, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The investigation found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure in the engines, propellers, or anti-ice systems.
Video Analysis
April 1: When a Plane Crash in 1993 took a NASCAR Champion — A retrospective on the 1993 crash that killed NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki, detailing the weather conditions and the NTSB findings regarding pilot error and icing procedures.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Held ATP and Commercial certificates; type rated in SA227, Beechjet 400, and DC-9.
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine Inlet Anti-Ice System
Designed to prevent ice buildup in the engine nacelles; failure to activate this in moisture below 40°F can lead to ice ingestion and flameout.
Continuous Ignition
A system intended to provide immediate relight capability if air or fuel flow is interrupted, such as during ice ingestion.
Stability Augmentation System (SAS)
A system that includes a stall avoidance feature; a fault warning light for this system was found illuminated at the crash site.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash killed 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki.
- 02Both engines were found to be non-operational at impact with propellers in the feathered position.
- 03The aircraft had encountered icing conditions earlier in the day and during the final descent.
- 04The freezing level at the time of the accident was reported to be less than 4,000 feet.
- 05Examination of the annunciator panel showed the engine inlet anti-ice lights were illuminated at impact.
- 06The pilot had over 19,000 total flight hours but only 235 hours in the Fairchild Merlin.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Garrett Engine Division Operating Information Letter
The engine manufacturer emphasized the use of engine inlet anti-ice in all moisture conditions at or below 40°F (4°C) to prevent flameouts during descent into warmer air.
Fairchild Flight Manual Revision
The flight manual was revised to include specific checklists for icing encounters, requiring continuous ignition and sequential activation of engine/prop heat for each engine.