Kalitta Charters - Kalitta Services
Safety Score
9.9/10Total Incidents
3
Total Fatalities
4
Recent Incidents
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
The airline transport pilot of the multiengine airplane was cleared for the VOR approach. The weather at the airport was reported as 400 ft overcast with 4 miles visibility in drizzle. When the airplane failed to arrive at the airport as scheduled, a search was initiated, and the wreckage was located soon thereafter. Radar data indicated that the pilot was provided vectors to intercept the final approach course. The last radar return indicated that the airplane was at 2,200 ft and 8.1 miles from the runway threshold. It impacted terrain 3.5 miles from the runway threshold and left of the final approach course. According to the published approach procedure, the minimum descent altitude was 1,100 feet, which was 466 ft above airport elevation. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had impacted the tops of trees and descended at a 45° angle to ground contact; the airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire, thus limiting the examination; however, no anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear was extended, and approach flaps had been set. Impact and fire damage precluded an examination of the flight and navigation instruments. Autopsy and toxicology of the pilot were not performed; therefore, whether a physiological issue may have contributed to the accident could not be determined. The location of the wreckage indicates that the pilot descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach; however, the reason for the pilot's descent below MDA could not be determined based on the available information.
Learjet 23
The pilot had computed landing performance information for a landing on a wet runway with anti-skid; sufficient runway surface was available. Touchdown was normal, however during the braking process, the airplane started to fishtail and the pilot believed that the anti-skid system had failed. Therefore, the pilot turned the antiskid system off and continued the rollout with normal braking. The airplane went off the departure end of runway 05 and sustained substantial damage. Performance data indicated more runway surface was required for a safe landing on a wet runway without anti-skid assistance. The braking sequence of events described by the pilot resembled dynamic hydroplaning where there was a complete loss of braking effectiveness rather than an anti-skid malfunction. An examination of the airplane failed to disclose any mechanical problems.
Learjet 24
After refueling in Denver, the medical evacuation flight was diverted from Aspen to Eagle to enplane the patient. IFR flight to Eagle was uneventful and radar service was terminated after the controller cleared the flight for the lDA-A approach to the Eagle Airport which shows a 239° inbound course. The last radio contact occurred when the crew replied 'we're 8 to 10 out and it's clear ahead' to Eagle radio in answer to a request for a base report. The flight collided with an 8,022 foot msl mountaintop bearing 298°, 3.88 miles from the airport while in the approach configuration. The safety board believes the flight was circling to land on runway 07, and the dark night prevented required visual lookout to avoid terrain obstructions. The Jeppesen approach charts used by the flightcrew did not accurately depict terrain obstructions within the 5-mile radius of the airport as stipulated in their legend. The safety board believes this could have mislead the flightcrew. All three occupants were killed.
Airline Information
Country of Origin
United States of America
Risk Level
Low Risk
