Cessna 320C N78KA

Summary

On 3 June 1996 at about 20:41 local time, a Cessna 320C registered N78KA was involved in an accident near Winslow, Maine, 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

3 June 1996 at 20:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Winslow, Maine, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 320C

Registration

N78KA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Old Towne → Syracuse

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96FA090

1 person died.

the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions, and his loss of aircraft control, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain (river). The known icing condition was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was cruising at 18,000 feet msl when radar and radio communication were lost. Radar data indicated the airplane made a 180 degree turn before impacting in a river. Witnesses reported that they heard the airplane, then saw it spiraling through the clouds. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a preimpact anomaly. Weather data indicated a temperature of minus 9 to 10 degrees Celsius at 18,000 feet msl and a freezing level at 9,000 to 13,000 feet msl. An airmet (Zulu Update 3) was in effect for icing and freezing level conditions, which pertained to the route of flight, and there were numerous pilot reports of icing conditions in the vicinity of the accident. The pilot requested and obtained an abbreviated preflight weather briefing, and he was advised by ATC of information in the airmet. According to the owner's manual, pilots of this make/model airplane should avoid icing conditions whenever possible. The airplane was not equipped with deicing equipment, and the pitot heat switch was found in the off position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.