Boeing A75N1 (PT17) N17PY accident near Osage City, Kansas

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB analysis

The airplane departed on a parachute jump flight with the airline transport pilot seated in the rear cockpit and two parachutists standing outside on the lower wing. About 200 ft above ground level, the pilot sensed a loss of engine power and the airplane stopped climbing. The airplane descended, and the pilot conducted an off-airport forced landing to a flat, open, muddy field about 1,600 ft north of the airport, during which the main landing gear separated from the airframe. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Review of weather information for the area at the time of the accident indicated that conditions were conducive to the accumulation of serious icing at glide power settings; however, the airplane was operating at takeoff power at the time of the accident, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16LA177 for the full record.