Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA05CA035

Davenport, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N310RA

Cessna 310J

Analysis

The flight encountered light mixed icing during descent. The airplane was in icing conditions for about 15 minutes. The pilot used the de-icing boots during the icing encounter and cycled the boots for the last time on downwind leg for landing. During the landing flare, he reduced power over the threshold about 15 feet agl, and the airplane stalled at a higher than normal airspeed resulting in a hard landing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by keeping power and airspeed up until touchdown when landing an airplane which has encountered icing conditions and retained some airframe ice.

Factual Information

On January 3, 2005, at 1245 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 310J, N310RA, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Davenport Municipal Airport, Davenport, Washington. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Alldredge Aviation of Auburn, Washington, and operated by the pilot. An IFR flight plan was filed for the personal cross country flight from Auburn to Davenport. The flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and departed Auburn at 1130. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the descent into Davenport, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed on the ground at Davenport. According to the pilot, the flight encountered light mixed icing during descent. The airplane was in icing conditions for about 15 minutes. The pilot used the de-icing boots during the icing encounter and cycled the boots for the last time on downwind leg for landing. During the landing flare, he reduced power over the threshold about 15 feet agl, and the airplane stalled at a higher than normal airspeed resulting in a hard landing. The propeller tips were bent, and there was engine nacelle and wing skin buckling. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by keeping power and airspeed up until touchdown when landing an airplane which has encountered icing conditions and retained some airframe ice.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing with airframe ice, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. Factors were the icing conditions and the airframe ice.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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