Pilot Says Engine Was 'Pulling, Surging'

A twin-engine turboprop airplane skidded into a ditch at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, IL earlier this week after the pilot experienced engine trouble and aborted the takeoff, authorities said.

The airplane was carrying four family members back to their home in Shreveport, LA when the pilot reported he felt a surge in the left engine.

"One engine was operating normally while the left engine was pulling, surging," the pilot, Stacy Mchalffey, told the Chicago Tribune. "The aircraft drifted to the left and then at some point off to the left side of the runway."

The plane, a Swearingen Merlin SA-226-T (type shown above), sustained significant damage in the Wednesday morning accident. Those onboard were treated for minor bumps and bruises, said Wheeling Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac.

Weather conditions and visibility at Chicago Executive were poor at the time of the accident, according to several witnesses. One witness reported, "It was snowing pretty heavily; very slushy and mushy."

"Had we not had this weather and the runway was dry, I would have been able to control the aircraft," said Mchalffey.

IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 125WG    Make/Model: SW3    Description: SA-226TB, SA-227TT Merlin 3
 Date: 04/11/2007   Time: 1615

 Event Type: Incident  Highest Injury: None   Mid Air: N  Missing: N
 Damage: Minor

LOCATION
 City: CHICAGO  State: IL  Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF, SLID OFF THE RUNWAY, CHICAGO-PROSPECT HEIGHTS, IL

INJURY DATA   Total Fatal:  0
         # Crew:  1   Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Pass:  4   Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Grnd:     Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 

WEATHER: SPECI 1619Z 09011G26KTS 3/4SM -SNBR BKN007 OVC012 01/00 A2953

OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown   Phase: Take-off   Operation: OTHER

 Departed: CHICAGO, IL         Dep Date:  Dep. Time:  
 Destination: SHREVEPORT, LA      Flt Plan: IFR     Wx Briefing:
 Last Radio Cont:
 Last Clearance:

 FAA FSDO: WEST CHICAGO, IL (GL03)       Entry date: 04/12/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.paulwakee.org