Narrative:
The airplane encountered freezing rain about 5 miles south of the Port Heiden Airport (PTH) while in cruise at 1200 feet msl, and rapidly accumulated ice on the airframe, wings, and windshield. The pilot said he initially changed altitude in an attempt to exit the icing conditions. Ice accumulation continued, so he elected to return to Port Heiden. While maneuvering to land at the airport, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude while at full engine power. The pilot related that any angle of bank resulted in the onset of prestall buffet. He stated that he decided to land on a frozen lake south of the airport. He said that the airplane did not reach the lake, "mushed into the ground," and that when he attempted to flare to land, the left wing stalled.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision resulting in airframe ice accumulation to the extent that degraded aircraft performance and insufficient airspeed occurred followed by a stall. Contributing factors were freezing rain and icing conditions. "
Loss of control
» NTSB
accident date: 30-01-1998
type: Cessna 208 Caravan I
registration: N9316F
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 30 January 1998 |
| Time: | 17:00 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208 Caravan I |
| Operator: | PenAir - Peninsula Airways |
| Registration: | N9316F |
| MSN: | 20800011 |
| First flight: | 1985 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 13478 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | ca 1,6 km SW of Port Heiden Airport, AK (PTH) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Port Heiden Airport, AK (PTH/PAPH), United States of America |
| Chignik Airport, AK (PAJC), United States of America |
The airplane encountered freezing rain about 5 miles south of the Port Heiden Airport (PTH) while in cruise at 1200 feet msl, and rapidly accumulated ice on the airframe, wings, and windshield. The pilot said he initially changed altitude in an attempt to exit the icing conditions. Ice accumulation continued, so he elected to return to Port Heiden. While maneuvering to land at the airport, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude while at full engine power. The pilot related that any angle of bank resulted in the onset of prestall buffet. He stated that he decided to land on a frozen lake south of the airport. He said that the airplane did not reach the lake, "mushed into the ground," and that when he attempted to flare to land, the left wing stalled.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision resulting in airframe ice accumulation to the extent that degraded aircraft performance and insufficient airspeed occurred followed by a stall. Contributing factors were freezing rain and icing conditions. "
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
IcingLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Adrep Summary 6/98 (#85)» NTSB
Photos
accident date: 30-01-1998
type: Cessna 208 Caravan I
registration: N9316F
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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