Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Burlington, Massachusetts
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Pepperell, MA
Accident Number: ERA19TA278
Date & Time: 09/20/2019, 1230 EDT
Registration: N895SF
Aircraft: Cessna 208
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Skydiving
On September 20, 2019, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N895SF, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Pepperell Airport (26MA), Pepperell, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the skydiving flight that departed at 1215. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was flying 10 skydivers and one passenger up to an altitude of 10,500 ft mean sea level. After the skydivers departed the airplane, the pilot returned to the airport and made a normal approach to land on runway 24. When the airplane was about 10-15 ft above the runway, he thought he encountered a sudden downdraft and the airplane just "dropped" out of the air and landed hard on the grass runway. The nose landing gear fractured off as the airplane slid to the right side of the runway and crossed the asphalt parallel runway. The airplane then contacted a small tree on the right wing that spun the airplane around. The left wing then contacted the ground and bent the last three ft of the wing tip up. The pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left-wing tip was bent up from contact with the ground. The wing spar was bent, and the nose landing gear was fractured off.
The single-engine, high-wing airplane was built in 1988, and equipped with a Pratt and Whitney PT6, 675 horsepower engine. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on September 5, 2019. At the time of accident, the airframe total time was 18,426.0 hours. The engine total time was 18,240.7 hours. The airplane flew 22.6 hours since the last 100-hour inspection.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land, and airplane multi-engine land. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and airplane multi-engine. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued on June 4, 2019. He reported 3,837 total hours of flight experience at the time of the accident. A total of 400 hours were in this make and model.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 66, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:06/04/2019
Occupational Pilot:Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/01/2018
Flight Time: 3837 hours (Total, all aircraft), 400 hours (Total, this make and model), 3741 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 136 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 49 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N895SF
Model/Series: 208 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1988
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 208B0095
Landing Gear Type:Tricycle
Seats:2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/05/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8752 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 23 Hours
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 18426 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: PT6A SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 675 hp
Operator:On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KASH, 200 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1356 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 15°
Lowest Cloud Condition:Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 9°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Pepperell, MA (26MA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Pepperell, MA (26MA)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1215 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Pepperell (26MA)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 176 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2820 ft / 25 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.696944, -71.548889
Location: Pepperell, MA
Accident Number: ERA19TA278
Date & Time: 09/20/2019, 1230 EDT
Registration: N895SF
Aircraft: Cessna 208
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Skydiving
On September 20, 2019, about 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N895SF, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Pepperell Airport (26MA), Pepperell, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the skydiving flight that departed at 1215. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was flying 10 skydivers and one passenger up to an altitude of 10,500 feet mean sea level. After the skydivers departed the airplane, the pilot returned to the airport and made a normal approach to land on runway 24. When the airplane was about 10-15 feet above the runway, he thought he encountered a sudden downdraft and the airplane just "dropped" out of the air and landed hard on the grass runway. The nose landing gear fractured off as the airplane slid to the right side of the runway and crossed the asphalt parallel runway. The airplane then contacted a small tree on the right wing that spun the airplane around. The left wing then contacted the ground and bent the last three feet of the wing tip up. The pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left-wing tip was bent up from contact with the ground. The wing spar was bent, and the nose landing gear was fractured off.
The single-engine, high-wing airplane was built in 1988, and equipped with a Pratt and Whitney PT6, 675 horsepower engine. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on September 5, 2019. At the time of accident, the airframe total time was 18,426.0 hours. The engine total time was 18,240.7 hours. The airplane flew 22.6 hours since the last 100-hour inspection.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land, and airplane multi-engine land. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and airplane multi-engine. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued on June 4, 2019. He reported 3,837 total hours of flight experience at the time of the accident. A total of 400 hours were in this make and model.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N895SF
Model/Series: 208 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KASH, 200 ft msl
Observation Time: 1356 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 9°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Pepperell, MA (26MA)
Destination: Pepperell, MA (26MA)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.696944, -71.548889
The plane could be seen in the brush about 50 feet away from the runway at the skydive-only airport.
“A preliminary investigation indicates that Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was attempting to land following a skydiving run when its nose struck the runway, causing it to leave the pavement and come to rest in the grass,” said police.
The Federal Aviation Administration will also investigate the cause of the crash.
Story and video ➤ https://boston.cbslocal.com
That end of the runway at that particular airport has a history of wind shear issues. I flew gliders there in the 60s and 70s before skydiving operations took hold. Strong thermal rotors and very high abrupt tree line contribute to strong circular rotors and very unpredictable shear. This was well known to anyone and everyone who attempts to land at the very end of that runway. This is not pilot error.
ReplyDeleteThis is not pilot error. Many have commented about the erratic, unpredictable wind shear over the years. And why didn't the FAA, local speak with more than one high time pilot that is familiar with these conditions. Again, NOT pilot error.
ReplyDeleteAlso its not a grass runway as you can see from the pics. I think this FAA inspector might have been rushed in their report perhaps?
ReplyDelete