Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC90FA061

WILLISTON, VT, USA

Aircraft #1

N4688B

CESSNA 208B

Analysis

THE PILOT FAILED TO DEICE THE WINGS PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF AND OVERLOADED THE AIRPLANE BY 360 LBS STRUCTURALLY AND 1100 LBS FOR FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS. THERE WAS MODERATE SNOW FALLING AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS DESCRIBED AS LONG AND A WITNESS SAW THE WINGS ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, CRASHED AND BURNED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND SNOW CONTAMINATION ON THE TOP OF ONE WING THAT DID NOT BURN AND THE TOP OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS AND ELEVATORS. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DE-ICE THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND HIS DECISION TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF AT A WEIGHT THAT EXCEEDED BOTH THE MAXIMUM STRUCTURAL TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE REDUCED TAKEOFF WEIGHT ALLOWED FOR ICING CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN INADEVERTENT STALL.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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