Beechcraft 58 N345PG

Summary

On 4 October 2014 at about 15:28 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N345PG was involved in an accident near Dixon, Illinois, United States. 2 people were 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

4 October 2014 at 15:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Dixon, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.8393, -89.4708

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N345PG

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wheeling → Savoy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA021

Nobody was injured.

The pilots’ improper decision to continue flight in icing conditions after the deicing boots could not shed accumulated ice, which resulted in a temporary loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The two pilots, one of whom was a flight instructor, were conducting a cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that, during the climb to 8,000 ft mean seal level (msl), light ice accumulated on the wings' leading edges. Activation of the deicing boots eliminated about 30 to 40 percent of the ice. The airplane then climbed to and leveled off at 10,000 ft msl, at which point, the engine speed "fluttered" and the airplane then rolled "quickly to the left" and entered a descending spin. The flight instructor applied control inputs, and the spin was arrested about 2,500 ft msl. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. Postaccident examination and testing of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing and elevator control surface, which was consistent with forces sustained from excessive accelerations; radar data showed that the airplane descended 7,500 ft in about 30 seconds. A weather briefing for the flight showed that an airmen's meteorological information for moderate icing conditions was in effect and that light showers, rain, and snow were forecast throughout the area about the time of the accident. The deicing boots were unable to shed the accumulated ice, which adversely affected the airplane's performance and resulted in the temporary loss of airplane control. The pilot reported that he did not fly in such weather conditions unless accompanied by an experienced pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.