Swearingen Merlin 3 —

On April 11, 2007, at 1115 central daylight time, a Swearingen SA-226T, N125WG, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff on runway 16 (5,000 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot and four passengers on-board were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and had an intended destination of Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV), Shreveport, Louisiana. The pilot reported that upon reaching approximately 75 knots during the takeoff roll, he felt a "surge" from the left engine. He noted that the "surging continued and positive directional control could not be regained," at which point he closed the throttles and elected to reject the takeoff. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and impacted an airport sign causing the nose landing gear to collapse.