What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 5, 2017, a columbia, LC41-550FG, N972JK, registered to JMK3 lands LLC, in cruise altitude FL175 requested an IFR clearance to climb to FL25 to test some equipment. At 12:32CST shortly after climbing to FL25 the pilot requested to descend to FL175 and started the decent before receiving ATC clearance for lower. The pilot was cleared to descend to FL190 and maintain FL190. When questioned at 12:33, if he was ok the pilot responded he was all right but, experiencing equipment issues and requested to cancel IFR and descend to FL175. ATC requested the pilot to maintain FL190 and instructed him to contact zme for a lower altitude. At 12:35CST, ATC instructed the pilot to descend and maintain FL170 and was asked again if he needed any assistance. The pilot responded that everything was ok. At 12:36CST the pilot declared an emergency. ATC requested the pilot to state the emergency and request, the pilot?s transmission was garbled and unrecognizable. ATC tried several times to contact the aircraft and requested other aircraft in the area to contact N972JK without any success. The aircraft impacted the terrain approximately 12:39CST. The majority of the aircraft was burned and destroyed on impact. The two occupant?s pilot and copilot sustained fatal injuries.
The flight originated from mckinney TX (ktki) as VMC, on January 5, 2017 approximately 11:45CST enroute to franklin, NC (K1A5). The root cause at this time is unspecified equipment failure.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 5, 2017, A COLUMBIA, LC41-550FG, N972JK, REGISTERED TO JMK3 LANDS LLC, IN CRUISE ALTITUDE FL175 REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO CLIMB TO FL25 TO TEST SOME EQUIPMENT. AT 12:32CST SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBING TO FL25 THE PILOT REQUESTED TO DESCEND TO FL175 AND STARTED THE DECENT BEFORE RECEIVING ATC CLEARANCE FOR LOWER. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO FL190 AND MAINTAIN FL190. WHEN QUESTIONED AT 12:33, IF HE WAS OK THE PILOT RESPONDED HE WAS ALL RIGHT BUT, EXPERIENCING EQUIPMENT ISSUES AND REQUESTED TO CANCEL IFR AND DESCEND TO FL175. ATC REQUESTED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN FL190 AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTACT ZME FOR A LOWER ALTITUDE. AT 12:35CST, ATC INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO DESCEND AND MAINTAIN FL170 AND WAS ASKED AGAIN IF HE NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK. AT 12:36CST THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. ATC REQUESTED THE PILOT TO STATE THE EMERGENCY AND REQUEST, THE PILOT?S TRANSMISSION WAS GARBLED AND UNRECOGNIZABLE. ATC TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT THE AIRCRAFT AND REQUESTED OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA TO CONTACT N972JK WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 12:39CST. THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS BURNED AND DESTROYED ON IMPACT. THE TWO OCCUPANT?S PILOT AND COPILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MCKINNEY TX (KTKI) AS VMC, ON JANUARY 5, 2017 APPROXIMATELY 11:45CST ENROUTE TO FRANKLIN, NC (K1A5). THE ROOT CAUSE AT THIS TIME IS UNSPECIFIED EQUIPMENT FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.