Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

N802TH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manteo - Edenton

MSN:

208B-0179

YOM:

1989

Location:

Edenton

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2980

Captain / Total hours on type:

850.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3520

Circumstances:

During his weather briefing, the pilot was told that his destination weather was not available, and was provided weather for an airport about 10 miles north. He was briefed that low visibility due to fog prevailed. The flight departed earlier then usual because the company business manager was concerned that the weather at the destination airport was deteriorating, and if the airplane was not there earlier they might not get into the airport. At the time of the accident there was a power failure, and lights around the destination airport went out. The airplane had struck power lines and a support tower located on the approach end of runway 1 and runway 5, about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The airport had one NDB approach which was not authorized at night. The nearest recorded weather, about 10 miles north of the crash site, at the time of the accident was; '...ceiling 100, [visibility] 1/2 mile, fog, [temperature] 46 degrees F, dew point, 42 degrees F, winds 220 degrees at 5 [knots], altimeter 29.90 inches Hg. Witnesses reported that there was heavy fog at the airport and the visibility was below 1/4 mile.

Probable cause:

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in this accident were: fog, the low ceiling, and the dark night.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Bethel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1996 at 1101 LT

Type of aircraft:

Arctic Transportation Services

Operator:

Registration:

N4704B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bethel - Kwigillingok

MSN:

208B-0199

YOM:

1989

Flight number:

ATS1604

Location:

Bethel

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3623

Captain / Total hours on type:

474.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3711

Circumstances:

The pilot was departing on a cargo flight. Just after takeoff, a company dispatcher attempted to contact the pilot by radio. The pilot replied, 'stand by.' No further communication was received from the pilot. The airplane was observed by ATC personnel in a left turn back toward the airport at an estimated altitude of 200 feet above the ground. The angle of bank during the turn increased, and the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped toward the ground. The airplane struck the ground in a nose and left wing low attitude about 1 mile west of the airport. The terrain around the airport was relatively flat, snow covered tundra. The airplane was destroyed. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction. Power signatures in the engine indicated it was developing power. A postaccident examination of the propeller assembly revealed one of three composite blades had rotated in its blade clamp 17/32 inch; however, the propeller manufacturer indicated blade contact with the ground would try to drive the propeller from a high blade angle toward a low blade angle. Movement toward a low blade angle would compress the propeller feathering springs, while movement toward a high blade angle would result in a hydraulic lock condition as oil in the system is compressed. The propeller manufacturer indicated they had no reports of composite blade slippage in the blade clamps.

Probable cause:

Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while maneuvering to reverse direction after takeoff, after encountering an undetermined anomaly. The undetermined anomaly was a related factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Piedras Negras: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1995 at 2050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Transportes Aéreos de Coahuila - TACSA

Operator:

Registration:

XA-SVM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saltillo - Piedras Negras

MSN:

208B-0214

YOM:

1990

Flight number:

TAC108

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot started the descent to Piedras Negras by night with a limited visibility due to poor weather conditions (drizzle and mist). Too low, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a hill located 16 km from Piedras Negras Airport. Two passengers were seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot decided to continue the descent in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Guabiruba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1995 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-MEQ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Florianópolis – Blumenau – Erexim

MSN:

208B-0414

YOM:

1994

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2631

Captain / Total hours on type:

271.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3105

Copilot / Total hours on type:

175

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Florianópolis on a cargo flight to Erexim with an intermediate stop in Blumenau. En route, the crew was informed that weather conditions deteriorated in Blumenau so he decided to divert to Navegantes-Itajaí Airport. on ground, the crew was called by another company's crew that weather improved at Blumenau Airport. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low stratus when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Guabiruba, about 30 km southeast of Blumenau Airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The following factors were reported:
- The flight schedule to which the crew members were being subjected at the time they were operating in the company was contrary to Law 7.183 of 1984 and may have led them to chronic fatigue and stress conditions.
- There are indications that psychological variables at the organizational level, with respect to flight scale, training, standardization and procedures of the company and the flight group contributed to the accident.
- Throughout the operation, both crew members showed signs of anxiety, complacency, underestimation regarding the information received, motivation, change in perceptual synthesis, illusion and inattention.
- The cloud base and visibility conditions made it difficult to navigate and identify the control points on the ground, as well as making it impossible to see the obstacles.
- Insufficient planning has led to crew members failing to navigate and fly themselves.
- The failure of the crew to judge in relation to continued flight in adverse weather conditions and below the limits set by the Rules of the Air (IMA 100-12) contributed to the accident.
- There is evidence of the company's involvement in the investigation process, which did not give the crew the full technical conditions necessary for the flight to take place.
- The failures committed on this flight indicate that at least one crew member failed to use the available navigation resources and the other failed to advise.
- There was an influence of the visibility and ceiling conditions, as well as the physical environment, in relation to the similarity between the valleys of the Itajaí River and Itajaí Mirim. There is also evidence that conditions in the administrative-operational environment of the company and the group of pilots contributed to the difficulties the pilots faced.
- The errors found imply failures of supervision in the flight schedule sector, with regard to compliance with the law, training and operations sector.
- The crew had little experience as pilots in the company and on the route flown.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Reno: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1995 at 0812 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Union Flights

Registration:

N9417B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sacramento - Reno

MSN:

208B-0065

YOM:

1987

Flight number:

UNF9840

Location:

Reno-Tahoe (ex Cannon)

Nevada

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4388

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4959

Circumstances:

Approaching Reno, the pilot received an instrument clearance to perform a Localizer DME-1, Rwy 16R, approach, which the FAA had previously approved for the operator's use. The localizer centerline passed over a 6,161-foot msl mountain, which was depicted on the chart. The pilot was familiar with the area, having transported cargo from Sacramento to Reno for 5 days each week since December, 1994. IMC existed and light snow showers were present. ATC issued the pilot a series of instructions as he was radar vectored toward the final approach fix (FAF), which had a minimum crossing altitude of 6,700 feet msl. The pilot misstated four of the instructions during clearance readbacks and was corrected by ATC each time. Contact with the pilot was lost following issuance of his landing clearance. The airplane impacted the mountainside at an elevation of about 6,050 feet, while tracking inbound near the centerline of the localizer course, about 2.7 nautical miles before reaching the FAF. The airframe, engine, and avionics equipment were examined. No mechanical malfunctions were found.

Probable cause:

The pilot's failure to comply with published instrument approach procedures by a premature descent below the minimum altitude specified for the approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan in Tawau

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1995 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

9M-PMN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Tawau - Kota Kinabalu

MSN:

208B-0295

YOM:

1992

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight to Kota Kinabalu, carrying two pilots and a load of 400 kilos of fish. After a course of 860 metres on runway 17, the aircraft lifted off and climbed to a height of about 3 metres when it landed back. It continued in a nose-up attitude, overran for 60 metres and came to rest down an embankment into several houses. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Gainesville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1995 at 1943 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

DMC Flying Service

Registration:

N227DM

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Savannah - Gainesville

MSN:

208B-0364

YOM:

1993

Location:

Gainesville-Lee Gilmer

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2005

Captain / Total hours on type:

201.00

Circumstances:

The flight was executing the non-precision NDB runway 04 approach, had reported procedure turn inbound, and was cleared to change to advisory frequency. Witnesses observed the airplane descend out of the base of the overcast clouds in a 10° nose down, 45° left wing down attitude. The airplane impacted terrain about 3/4 mile south-southeast of the airport. Witnesses in the area reported that the weather was ceilings of about 100 feet and visibility of about 500 feet in light rain and fog. The minimum descent altitude for the approach is 465 feet agl. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilots failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude during the approach. The weather and dark night light condition were factors.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Lubbock

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1995 at 0903 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9461R

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Lubbock - Midland

MSN:

208B-0076

YOM:

1988

Flight number:

MRA817

Location:

Lubbock

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2542

Captain / Total hours on type:

514.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3984

Circumstances:

During the night before the accident, freezing rain followed later by snow, fell on the ramp where the airplane was parked. A witness reported that while assisting the pilot in removing snow from the airplane, he noted that 80% of the wing was covered with a coarse layer of ice, from 1/16 to 3/16 in thickness, that was not removed before flight. After the accident, a fireman from the city of lubbock fire department noted ice on the wing approximately 1/16th of an inch thick that had a rough texture that looked as if deposited by freezing rain. The pilot reported that shortly after take off she heard a power decrease and felt surges in the aircraft. The pilot then looked for a place to land. A detailed examination of the engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.

Probable cause:

The pilot's failure to remove ice from the airframe prior to takeoff. Factors were freezing rain the night before and the pilots' incomplete preflight inspection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Pleasanton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1995 at 1747 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N754FE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Visalia - Oakland

MSN:

208B-0249

YOM:

1991

Location:

Pleasanton

California

Country:

Region: