Narrative:
The Caravan departed Minneapolis (MSP) at 01:05 for Detroit (YIP). The aircraft entered an area of icing conditions and descended from 5000 feet back to 4000 feet. At 01:45 the pilot reported problems maintaining altitude: "...looks like we're gonna need to land somewhere we're starting to have a hard time holding altitude here." The Minneapolis ARTCC controller informed N228PA that the Winona airport (ONA) was about 22 miles at the one o'clock position.
The pilot decided to divert to Winona but continued to lose altitude. The minimum safe altitude for the Winona area was 3,000 feet msl, but at 01:52 the pilot advised that he was unable to maintain that altitude. About 17 nm (31 km) north-northwest of Winona, the aircraft crashed into trees.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot not removing the ice contamination from the airplane prior to departure and the pilot intentionally flying into known severe icing conditions, resulting in the aircraft not being able to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain. Factors to the accident included the icing conditions and the trees encountered during the forced landing."
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 15 March 2002 |
| Time: | 02:00 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster |
| Operator: | Priority Air Charter |
| Registration: | N228PA |
| MSN: | 208B0049 |
| First flight: | 1988 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9942 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 8 km (5 mls) S of Alma, WI ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP/KMSP), United States of America |
| Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI (YIP/KYIP), United States of America |
The Caravan departed Minneapolis (MSP) at 01:05 for Detroit (YIP). The aircraft entered an area of icing conditions and descended from 5000 feet back to 4000 feet. At 01:45 the pilot reported problems maintaining altitude: "...looks like we're gonna need to land somewhere we're starting to have a hard time holding altitude here." The Minneapolis ARTCC controller informed N228PA that the Winona airport (ONA) was about 22 miles at the one o'clock position.
The pilot decided to divert to Winona but continued to lose altitude. The minimum safe altitude for the Winona area was 3,000 feet msl, but at 01:52 the pilot advised that he was unable to maintain that altitude. About 17 nm (31 km) north-northwest of Winona, the aircraft crashed into trees.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot not removing the ice contamination from the airplane prior to departure and the pilot intentionally flying into known severe icing conditions, resulting in the aircraft not being able to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain. Factors to the accident included the icing conditions and the trees encountered during the forced landing."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
IcingLoss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN to Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI as the crow flies is 828 km (517 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN to Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI as the crow flies is 828 km (517 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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