AINsight: A Frictional Tale about Checklist Use | Aviation International News

AINsight: A Frictional Tale about Checklist Use

Checklist usage, a foundation to both good airmanship and safety, could have potentially prevented a June 2019 King Air accident.

By Stuart “Kipp” Lau • Contributor - Safety

May 28, 2021

In June 2019, a King Air 350 crashed on takeoff at Addison (Texas) Airport, killing 10 people. At the time, the NTSB preliminary report focused on a loss of power on the left engine and a loss of directional control.

Now, nearly two years later, the NTSB final report issued on May 18 points to a lack of pilot discipline and manual handling skills and the potential that a single aircraft component can contribute to a crash. The latter, a simple power lever friction lock, according to the NTSB and King Air experts, might have contributed to this and many past inadvertent thrust reductions on this popular turboprop.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

Contributor - Safety

About the author

Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.

See more by this author

NTSB: Citation V in Overrun Was Snow-coated, Overweight

Rejected takeoff initiated above the decision speed

A Citation V that slid off the runway in Pagosa Springs in 2024

Libyan Officials Investigate Latitude Runway Overrun

Three crew survived crash on empty leg charter trip from Istanbul

Misrata Airport Citation crash

NBC News Helicopter Crashes in LA, Killing Three

Helicopter was covering a fatal collision between an SUV and bus when it went down

Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a press conference near the scene of the crashes on September 15

Forgotten Safety Pin Preceded Gulfstream IV Excursion

Airplane veered into grass with no injuries reported

Screenshot 2026-09-14 at 8.07.17 AM

District Court Rejects Appeal of GARA-related Lawsuit

Plaintiffs argued that police aircraft are exempt from GARA statute of repose

Helicopter accident flight path

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

the pilatus PC-12 photographed on a ramp

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter