Two individuals lost their lives on Sunday, October 12, when a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air C90 turboprop plane crashed into a commercial storage lot, destroying multiple semitrailers and igniting an intense fire near Hicks Airfield. The severity of the wreckage and the resulting inferno have presented a complex challenge for federal aviation authorities as they work to determine the cause of the fatal incident.
Catastrophic Impact and Emergency Response
The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. in the 12700 block of N. Saginaw Boulevard outside of Fort Worth, an area surrounded by small businesses and homes. The aircraft, which reportedly departed from Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, impacted a parking lot used for storing 18-wheeler semitrailers and campers.
Witnesses described an immediate and massive conflagration, with one person noting a “giant ball of fire and smoke” that made it impossible to even discern the plane within the wreckage. The Fort Worth Fire Department confirmed that the intensity of the blaze, which involved the plane’s fuel and at least ten damaged tractor-trailers, was so severe that initial responders believed they were attending to two separate incidents—a building fire and a vehicle fire. Firefighters from multiple agencies battled the flames for approximately 35 minutes before bringing the scene under control. Two occupants of the aircraft were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
NTSB and FAA Launch Monthslong Probe
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have officially launched a joint investigation into the crash of the Beechcraft King Air C90. The NTSB, which leads the investigation, will use wreckage analysis, radar data, and maintenance logs to determine the probable cause.
Officials have noted that finding the definitive cause will be a time-intensive process, likely taking several months. Investigators are focusing on all potential factors, including mechanical failure, pilot actions, and environmental conditions at the time of the sudden, sharp descent observed on surveillance video. The aircraft was confirmed not to be based at the nearby Hicks Airfield.
