1993 Tennessee Fairchild Merlin crash
A Fairchild SA227-TT Merlin, similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 1, 1993 |
| Summary | Crashed on approach in icing conditions |
| Site | 5.5 miles (9 km) northeast of Tri-Cities Regional Airport 36°33′54.5″N 82°18′48.7″W / 36.565139°N 82.313528°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Fairchild SA227-TT Merlin |
| Operator | Eastern Foods Inc. |
| Registration | N500AK |
| Flight origin | McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Destination | Tri-Cities Regional Airport, Blountville, Tennessee |
| Occupants | 4 |
| Passengers | 3 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On the evening of April 1, 1993, a Swearingen Merlin III twin turboprop, carrying NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki, crashed near Blountville, Tennessee, while on approach to the nearby Tri-Cities Regional Airport. All four people on board, including Alan Kulwicki, two executives of his corporate sponsor Hooters, and the pilot, were killed.
Kulwicki was being transported from a promotional appearance in Knoxville, Tennessee to the Bristol Motor Speedway for the running of the 1993 Food City 500 on April 4. An investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to operate the engine inlet anti-ice system properly.