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| Date: | Monday 4 January 2010 |
| Time: | 10:54 |
| Type: |  Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP |
| Owner/operator: | American King Air Services, Inc. |
| Registration: | N5118J |
| MSN: | 172S10931 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2009 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-360-L2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Greenbush, ME -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Bangor International Airport, ME (BGR/KBGR) |
| Goose Bay Airport, NL (YYR/CYYR) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On January 4, 2010, at 1054 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N5118J, owned and operated by American King Air Services, Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted the Penobscot River, near Greenbush, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was killed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Goose Bay Airport (CYYR), Goose Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. The flight originated from Bangor International Airport (KBGR), Bangor, Maine, about 1018. The ferry flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was attempting an instrument flight rules (IFR) transoceanic ferry flight in a new Cessna 172S. The flight had been delayed several days due to weather, and the pilot was anxious to return home to the United Kingdom, as his daughter was having surgery. The airplane was equipped with an approved auxiliary fuel tank, which resulted in a gross weight that was 30 percent higher than the published maximum gross weight for the airplane. The higher gross weight was also approved under a special airworthiness certificate; however, the operating limitations for that certificate included, "15. Avoid moderate to severe turbulence." Additionally, the pilot contacted a flight service station and was aware of airmen's meteorological information (AIRMET)s for IFR conditions, moderate turbulence below 11,000 feet, and moderate ice below 13,000 feet, with the freezing level ranging between the surface and 2,500 feet. All three AIRMETS were in effect at the time of departure and the pilot was also aware of cloud and precipitation locations. The airplane flew about 25 miles northeast of the departure airport, then reversed course when the pilot could no longer maintain an altitude of 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and was having difficulty controlling the airplane in turbulence and icing conditions. The airplane flew approximately 7 miles after the course reversal, descending to 1,200 feet msl, until radar contact was lost. A witness reported that the airplane flew overhead about 100 to 200 feet above ground level, with continuous engine noise, until it impacted a river. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Light snow and drizzle prevailed at the time of departure.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt a transoceanic flight in turbulent, icing conditions, with an overweight airplane that was not approved for moderate turbulence and not equipped with deicing systems. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's personal pressure to return home.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75218
Location
Images:
Photo: FAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Jan-2010 10:50 | slowkid | Added |
| 04-Jan-2010 10:57 | slowkid | Updated [Location, Narrative, ] |
| 04-Jan-2010 11:04 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Narrative, ] |
| 04-Jan-2010 11:29 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, ] |
| 04-Jan-2010 21:21 | Geno | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 04-Jan-2010 21:31 | slowkid | Updated |
| 04-Jan-2010 21:53 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 26-Nov-2017 12:31 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-Nov-2017 16:05 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Photo, ] |
| 28-Jun-2025 14:00 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
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