Wichita - Phoenix

On November 2, 1991 at 12:06 PM, Wichita - Phoenix experienced a crash involving Rockwell Grand Commander 690, operated by Mid Plains Corporation, with the event recorded near Wichita-Dwight D. Eisenhower (Mid-Continent) Kansas.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot and his wife departed Wichita, Kansas with a destination of Phoenix, Arizona. Eight minutes after takeoff, while in a climb to 15,000 feet, the passenger contacted departure control and communicated that she thought that her husband might be dead. While departure control was getting a pilot to assist in the situation, the passenger, who was not a pilot attempted to fly the aircraft. A witness reported a rapid series of climbs and descents just before both horizontal stabilizers and the rudder separated from the aircraft. The aircraft then entered a spin terminating with ground impact. The aircraft was consumed by a post-crash fire. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N799V, MSN 690-11407, year of manufacture 1977.