Beechcraft B300 Super King Air, N534AW, fatal accident occurred on August 5, 2025, at Chinle Municipal Airport (E91), Chinle, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N534AW

CSI Aviation Inc

- History of the Flight:

On August 5, 2025, at about 1240 local time, a Beechcraft B300 Super King Air, N534AW, registered to CSI Aviation Inc out of Killeen, Texas, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Chinle Municipal Airport (E91), Chinle, Arizona. The two pilots and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The flight originated from Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ/KABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was destined to Chinle. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

According to preliminary information, the purpose of the flight was to pick up a patient from a nearby hospital.

According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed runway 8 KABQ at 1155 LT and entered a climbing left turn to an inflight cruising altitude of 18,000 ft and groundtrack heading of 290°. The data suggests the autopilot was turned on during the climb, and continued throughout the flight, which appeared uneventful. At about 1239 LT, the airplane started its descent towards Chinle. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 1239:00, about 6 miles from the airport. The airplane was at 6750 ft, 200 knots, and descending -1300 feet per minute (fpm), and starting a left turn (Figure 1).

Figure 1: ADS-B Track

Preliminary information indicates the aircraft crashed "while landing at the airport." The specifics are unknown at this point. (was it upon/during landing or during a go-around?)

On August 6, 2025, the FAA stated in the AIN Notice Report "AIRCRAFT CRASHED UPON LANDING E91 FOR UNKNOWN REASONS."

- Pilot Information:

Unknown at this point.

- Aircraft Information:
The eight-seat, twin-engine, low-wing, retractable-landing-gear airplane, serial number FA-154, was (presumably) manufactured in 1988. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-60, 1,050-horsepower turboprop engines.

- Wreckage and Impact Information:

The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest on an access road that runs parallel to, and is located about 950 feet to the west of runway 36. The initial ground scar was on flat airport property that was oriented at an (approx) 280° heading. A majority of the fuselage was destroyed during the postimpact fire. The tail was the only identifiable part, it came to rest upright and sustained impact and thermal damage.

The impact sequence appears consistent with a left roll. (speculation, not confirmed)

- Airport Information:

Chinle Municipal Airport is a non-towered public airport located 3 miles southwest of Chinle, Arizona. The airport field elevation was 5550 feet msl. The airport features a single runway: runway 18/36 (6902 x 60 feet, asphalt/in good condition).

- Weather:

There is no automated airport weather station (ASOS) at Chinle. The nearest weather reporting station, located 37 nautical miles away at Window Rock Airport (KRQE), Window Rock, Arizona, reported the following conditions:

The KRQE weather observation recorded at 1153 noted: winds from 270 at 17 knots, gusting 28 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, no clouds under 12,000 ft (CLR), temperature 31°C, dew point - 1°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.39 inches of mercury (inHg).

The KRQE weather observation recorded at 1253 noted: winds from 280 at 14 knots, gusting 28 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, no clouds under 12,000 ft (CLR), temperature 32°C, dew point - 1°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.38 inches of mercury (inHg).

The calculated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 8,415 ft.

METAR KRQE 051753Z AUTO 28017G28KT 10SM CLR 31/M01 A3039 RMK AO2 PK WND 28028/1747 SLP149 T03061006 10306 20128 50001

METAR KRQE 051853Z AUTO 27014G28KT 10SM CLR 32/M01 A3038 RMK AO2 PK WND 25028/1849 SLP139 T03171006

- Additional Information:

None at this point.