21 Jun 20225:37 reconstruction3K views

“The engine sounds very STRANGE ” ATC helps the aircraft land safely

The Engine Sounds Very Strange — ATC Builds a Rescue Around a Failing Aircraft

At about 10:40 a.m. Central Time on June 21, 2022, Kansas City Center notified the Kansas City International TRACON that a pilot was calling MAYDAY on 121.5. The aircraft was an experimental airplane, N314LB, which had departed Aero County Airport in McKinney, Texas, for Boone Municipal Airport in Iowa. Its engine was deteriorating rapidly and the pilot was searching for a place to land.

The Emergency Call

The pilot reported that the engine was about to fail. Kansas City controller Tyler Wilke established contact and attempted to move the aircraft to another frequency, but the pilot remained with him. Wilke began identifying nearby airports, including Cameron Memorial Airport and Midwest National Air Center.

Workload Was Reduced Around the Controller

As the pilot reported worsening engine problems, the situation became a workload-management problem as well as an aircraft emergency. Matt Williams, the controller in charge, directed local departure traffic away from the frequency being used for the emergency. That gave Wilke more capacity to concentrate on the distressed aircraft.

A Second Aircraft Becomes a Safety Net

The pilot reported that he could not find a field large enough for a forced landing. Controllers then asked a nearby aircraft, N62NG, to act as a spotting aircraft. N62NG had departed Midwest National Air Center and agreed to assist. The second aircraft was directed toward N314LB while Wilke continued providing nearby-airport information.

No Mechanical Cause Was Established

The pilot reported a serious engine problem, and controllers quickly reorganized the traffic around the emergency. Nearby airports were identified, frequency congestion was reduced and another aircraft was asked to help locate N314LB if a forced landing became necessary. The exact mechanical defect was not identified in the published reports.

The recorded account gives the event its defining line: Mayday, Mayday. This is Experimental N314LB with an engine about to fail. That transmission explains why the controller’s response immediately shifted from routine traffic handling to emergency support.

Why the controller response is documented

Departure traffic was moved away from the emergency frequency so Wilke could concentrate on N314LB. Williams coordinated the tower response, and another aircraft was enlisted to help locate a possible forced-landing site. The published reports do not establish the final aircraft condition or the mechanical defect.

Accident Facts

Date: June 21, 2022
Registration: N314LB
Event: The Engine Sounds Very Strange — ATC Builds a Rescue Around a Failing Aircraft
Category: Near-Miss / ATC Save

Timeline

June 21, 2022, about 10:40 a.m. CT —

Kansas City Center notified the TRACON of a MAYDAY call.

Shortly afterward —

N314LB reported severe engine problems.

During the emergency —

Tyler Wilke identified nearby airports and kept the aircraft on his frequency.

As workload increased —

Departure traffic was moved to another frequency.

Later —

N62NG was asked to act as a spotting aircraft.

Final documented phase —

Controllers continued helping N314LB search for a survivable landing option.

Sources

Video source (ATC/audio reconstruction)
Video: The engine sounds very STRANGE! ATC saves the day, https://flightfollower.net/incident/the-engine-sounds-very-strange-atc-saves-the-day/
Incident account and ATC audio associated with N314LB.
Video/ATC recording

Audio from the original air traffic control recording, sourced from public recordings and released investigation records. The reconstruction, animation and written account are our own.