Cessna 208B N228PA

Summary

On 15 March 2002 at about 08:00 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N228PA, operated by Priority Air Charter, was involved in an accident near Alma, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 March 2002 at 08:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Alma, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

44.3572, -91.7858

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N228PA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Priority Air Charter

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Detroit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI02FA093

1 person died.

The pilot not removing the ice contamination from the airplane prior to departure and the pilot intentionally flying into known severe icing conditions, resulting in the aircraft not being able to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain. Factors to the accident included the icing conditions and the trees encountered during the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed with the airplane contaminated with ice, into known severe icing conditions, and was unable to maintain altitude, subsequently impacting trees and terrain. Witnesses reported the accident airplane arrived at the departure airport contaminated with ice. Several witnesses stated they asked the pilot if he needed the airplane deiced prior to his next departure and the pilot stated he did not need any deice service. Several witnesses said they noticed the pilot chipping-off ice from the airplane prior to his departure. While en route the pilot reported the airplane had encountered icing conditions and he was unable to maintain altitude. Several thick pieces of ice were recovered around the accident site and one of the recovered ice pieces had a semicircular shaped edge that was consistent with a leading edge of an airfoil. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the leading edge de-ice boots that were installed on both wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and wing struts. Federal Aviation Regulations state that all ice contimination shall be removed prior to flight. The Cessna 208B Pilot Operating Handbook indicates that continued flight into known icing conditions must be avoided.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.