Cessna 208A N828FE

Summary

On 23 October 1987 at about 11:23 local time, a Cessna 208A registered N828FE, operated by Union Flights, was involved in an accident near Fairfield, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 October 1987 at 11:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairfield, California, United States

Coordinates

38.1903, -121.9303

Aircraft

Cessna 208A

Registration

N828FE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Union Flights

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oakland → Reno

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX88FA020

1 person died.

PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE WHICH PRECIPITATED A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CRUISING ON A SCHEDULED CARGO FLIGHT IN IMC THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE NEAR AN AREA WHERE WEATHER CELLS COULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON THE AIRCRAFT'S RADAR. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED.THE RECENTLY HIRED PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE FAA APPROVED GROUND AND FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE PILOT'S RECENT TRAINING, NEITHER THE FAA NOR THE OPERATOR REQUIRED THE PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE RECOVERIES OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE IN THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEATHER RADAR. COMPANY EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDED THE PILOT'S HUSBAND, STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH WEATHER RADAR AND DID NOT UNDERSTANDTHE WEATHER RADAR INSTALLED IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE TIRED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.