Swearingen SA-226AT N120SC

Summary

On 5 February 2008 at about 19:20 local time, a Swearingen SA-226AT registered N120SC was involved in an accident near Ankeny, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 February 2008 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Ankeny, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV)

Coordinates

41.6914, -93.5664

Aircraft

Swearingen SA-226AT

Registration

N120SC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ankeny → Miami

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA074

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the snow on the runway and the snowbank.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that it was snowing during his preflight activities and takeoff roll. A snowplow operator stated that he had cleared approximately four passes on either side of the runway centerline when the accident airplane taxied onto the runway. The pilot back-taxied on the departure runway to determine how much snow covered the runway. During the subsequent takeoff roll, at approximately 80 knots, the left main landing gear encountered some deeper snow that caused the airplane to swerve left off of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct the left swerve with right rudder input, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged when its nose landing gear impacted a snowbank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.