RAYTHEON KING AIR B90, WEST PALM BEACH, FLA., SEPT. 3, 1999–Eight people were killed when the King Air ran out of fuel on an IFR flight from Pontiac, Mich. to Boca Raton, Fla. The twin turboprop crashed a half mile short of West Palm Beach (Fla.) International Airport (PBI) at 0325, an alternate requested two minutes earlier. The NTSB cited contributing factors were an over-gross takeoff weight, and inadequate preflight and in-flight planning.
The flight left Pontiac Airport (PTK) at 2231 with the ATP-rated pilot in the left seat and the owner-pilot in the right seat. At 0237 the pilot made radio contact with Miami Center and received a clearance direct to Boca Raton Airport (BCT). Shortly after 0300 the controller issued the initial descent to 6,000 ft. The pilot received a handoff to Palm Beach Tower at 0314 and reported in that he was descending to 6,000 ft. At 0323 the pilot requested a deviation to PBI, which he received along with a descent to 1,500 ft. The controller told the pilot the airport was “10 to 11 o’clock at five miles” and to report the field in sight. He did and the controller cleared him for the visual to Runway 13.
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