CHI99FA177

The flight was executing a precautionary landing at the airport due to a reported fuel transfer problem. Witnesses described hearing engine variances and observed the aircraft roll and impact the ground nose first. There was a post crash fire mainly confined to the right wing area. Inspection of the flight control system, engines, and propellers did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies with these systems. The left fuel selector and left fuel pumps passed functional tests. The right fuel selector and right fuel pumps could not be tested due to fire damage.

History of flight

On June 8, 1999, about 1235 central daylight time (all times herein are central daylight time unless otherwise specified), a Cessna 340A, N1372G, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the terrain while on a visual final approach for landing on runway 13 at the Phillipsburg Municipal Airport (PHG), Phillipsburg, Kansas. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an IFR flight plan. The flight departed Wheeling, Illinois, about 0912.

The evening before the accident, at 2040, the pilot of N1372G called the Kankakee Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) preflight one position via telephone and requested an outlook weather briefing for an I-F-R flight from the Chicago Palwaukee Municipal Airport (PWK) to the Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB) leaving around 1400Z. The specialist then provided the pilot with an outlook weather briefing. The pilot then stated he would call again the next morning.

At 0700 on the morning of the accident, the pilot of N1372G called the Kankakee AFSS preflight five position via telephone and requested a weather briefing for an IFR flight from PWK to PUB airport leaving around 1400Z. The specialist provided the pilot with a standard weather briefing. The pilot then stated that he was ready to file an IFR flight plan, which was received and filed by the specialist.

0907 - N1372G requested IFR clearance to Pueblo, CO. Ground control issued the clearance and received a readback.

0912 - N1372G called tower holding short of runway 30 ready to roll.

0912 - N1372G was instructed to hold short of runway 30 awaiting release.

0912 - N1372G was instructed to fly the runway heading runway 30 cleared for takeoff.

0918 - N1372G was instructed to contact departure.

0919 - N1372G checked on North Satellite off the ground at Palwaukee. Radar contact was established. N1372G was instructed to maintain 3,000 and to say the altitude leaving. Pilot acknowledged out of 1,000.

0921 - North Satellite instructed N1372G to turn left heading 270. Pilot acknowledged.

0923 - N1372G checks on with South Departure at 4,000.

0924 - South Departure instructs N1372G to turn left heading 250, climb and maintain 6,000. Pilot acknowledged.

0925 - South Departure instructs N1372G to climb and maintain 10,000. Pilot acknowledged.

0927 - South Departure instructs N1372G to turn right heading 270. Pilot acknowledged.

0931 - South Departure instructs N1372G to contact Chicago Center on 127.07.

0931 - N1372G reported on the Chicago ARTCC MALTA Sector frequency, leaving 9,200 feet for 10,000.

0933 - The MALTA Radar Controller issued N1372G a clearance direct DBQ VOR

0934 - The MALTA Radar Controller issued N1372G a clearance to climb to 12,000 feet.

0938 - The MALTA Radar Controller issued N1372G a clearance to climb to 16,000 feet.

0940 - Communication with N1372G transferred to Chicago ARTCC DBQ Sector frequency 133.95. N1372G reported on the DBQ Sector frequency, leaving 13,600 feet for 16,000 feet.

0947 - The DBQ Radar Controller issued N1372G a clearance to climb to FL180 and direct destination of PUB.

1025 - Communication with N1372G transferred to Chicago ARTCC OTM Sector frequency 132.8.

1026 - N1372G reported on the OTM Sector frequency, level at FL180.

1041 - Communication with N1372G transferred to the Minneapolis ARTCC Sector 27 frequency 125.65

1041 - The pilot of N1372G checked in with Minneapolis Center Sector 27 and reported level at Flight Level 180. The Sector 27 specialist acknowledged.

1121 - Sector 27 instructed N1372G to contact Minneapolis ARTCC on 128.75. N1372G acknowledged.

1121 - N1372G checked in with Sector 26 on 128.75, level at Flight Level 180. Sector 26 acknowledged and advised N1372G that the Omaha, NE, altimeter was 29.92. Sector 26 also advised N1326G that the altimeters to the west were too low for FL180. N1372G acknowledged.

1142 - Sector 26 asked N1372G if he wanted Flight Level 200 or 16,000 feet. N1372G requested 16,000. Sector 26 cleared N1372G to maintain 16,000 and issued the Lincoln, NE, altimeter 29.90. N1372G acknowledged.

1151 - Sector 26 instructed N1372G to change to his frequency 119.4. N1372G acknowledged.

1152 - Sector 26 issued N1372G the Hastings, NE, altimeter 29.88. N1372G acknowledged.

1211 - Sector 26 instructed N1372G to contact Denver ARTCC on 132.5. N1372G acknowledged.

1211 - N1372G checked on frequency and reported level at 16,000 feet. The Sector 19 Radar Controller (ZDV19R) acknowledged and issued the Hill City, KS (HLC) altimeter setting of 29.83.

1221 - N1372G advised ZDV19R of a fuel problem with one engine and requested vectors to land.

1222 - ZDV19R advised N1372G that the Phillipsburg, KS (PHG) airport was south of his position and asked if he was able to maintain altitude. N1372G said affirmative. ZDV19R asked N1372G if he was out of fuel. N1372G said that he was not out of fuel, but was having a fuel transfer problem with one engine and that the fuel transfer was not working properly. ZDV19R advised N1372G that PHG was 12 miles south of his position and the McCook, NE (MCK) airport was at 12 o'clock and 40 miles. ZDV19R asked N1372G if he intended to land as soon as practical. N1372G did want to land as soon as he could and requested the runway length for PHG. ZDV19R advised N1372G that the runway length for PHG was 3,800 feet. N1372G said that he could land at PHG.

1223 - ZDV19R acknowledged N1372G, vectored him for PHG, then issued the HLC altimeter of 29.83.

1224 - N1372G asked ZDV19R if PHG was in Kansas. ZDV19R acknowledged that it was in Kansas and then spelled PHG for him. ZDV19R advised N1372G that PHG had a radio beacon and advised him the frequency was 368. N1372G asked for the identification of PHG again so that he could program it into his GPS. ZDV19R told him it was papa hotel golf.

1225 - ZDV19R instructed N1372G to turn left heading 150. ZDV19R informed N1372G that the main runway for PHG was 13 and 31 then stated its length as 3,800 feet. ZDV19R advised N1372G that PHG was at 11 o'clock and 8 miles.

1226 - N1372G asked ZDV19R what his heading should be for PHG. ZDV19R advised N1372G that PHG was at 11 o'clock and 5 miles. N1372G reported descending out of 14,000 feet. ZDV19R cleared N1372G to maintain at or above 6,000 feet. N1372G acknowledged.

1227 - ZDV19R advised N1372G that PHG was at 9-10 o'clock and a mile then asked N1372G if he had the airport in sight. N1372G said that he was not sure. ZDV19R asked N1372G again if he had PHG in sight. N1372G said that he did not believe so.

1228 - ZDV19R informed N1372G that he had just passed over PHG, that the airport should be off to his left, and instructed N1372G to turn right heading 320 for a vector to PHG. ZDV19R asked N1372G if he had the ground in sight and if he was VFR. N1372G said that he was VFR, but did not have PHG in sight. ZDV19R informed N1372G that PHG was now at 6 o'clock and 3 miles and instructed him to fly heading 320. N1372G acknowledged that he was turning right.

1229 - N1372G reported PHG in sight. ZDV19R informed N1372G of PHG's unicom frequency of 122.8, advised him that there was no observed traffic in the area, and then explained the radar limitations around PHG below 6,000 feet. ZDV19R advised N1372G that the minimum safe altitude within a 25-mile radius of PHG was 3,800 feet and N1372G acknowledged. N1372G advised ZDV19R that he would change over to PHG unicom then report back on ZDV19R's frequency. ZDV19R cleared N1372G for a visual approach to PHG and issued the HLC altimeter of 29.83. No response.

1231 - N1372G advised ZDV19R that he was unable to talk to anyone on PHG unicom and requested the winds for the area. ZDV19R advised N1372G that the approp