No distress call from pilot in plane crash that killed Kansas family

On April 22, 2011, at 1213 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N580EA, collided with the ground while executing a missed approach at the Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP), Topeka, Kansas. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Precision Ag and Seed Services LLC., and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Scott City Municipal Airport (TQK), Scott City, Kansas, about 1045.

Two pilot witnesses at TOP reported observing the accident airplane flying in a level flight attitude about halfway down runway 31. The airplane’s landing gear was extended and they estimated its altitude to be around 200 to 300 feet above the runway. When the airplane was near the runway’s end the landing gear was retracted and the airplane began a slow climb into the clouds. The witnesses estimated the overcast to be at 500 feet above ground level (AGL) with a visibility of 2.5 miles. Numerous people on the ground reported hearing the airplane impact the ground and reported seeing a fireball; however, there were no reported eyewitnesses to the actual impact.

According to air traffic control (ATC) recordings and radar data, the pilot had attempted the localizer back course approach to runway 31 before executing a missed approach. During the missed approach the airplane entered a steep descending left turn and impacted terrain. There were no reported distress calls from the pilot.

The airplane wreckage was located in a harvested cornfield 4 miles northeast of TOP.