Visual Flight Rules encounter with Instrument Meteorological Conditions: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, N24MG; accident occurred February 06, 2020 near Murray Field Airport (KEKA), Humboldt County, California

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oakland, California

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N24MG

Location: Eureka, California

Accident Number: WPR20CA089

Date & Time: February 6, 2020, 06:56 Local

Registration: N24MG

Aircraft: Cessna 208 

Aircraft Damage: Destroyed

Defining Event: VFR encounter with IMC

Injuries: 1 Minor

Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled

Analysis

While the pilot was on a visual approach to the airport and descending over water on the left base leg, about 100 ft above the water's surface, the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions with no forward visibility. The pilot looked outside his left window to gauge the airplane's altitude and saw "black waves of water approaching extremely rapidly." He tried to pull back on the yoke to initiate a climb, but the nosewheel contacted the water. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's delayed response to initiate a go-around during a night visual approach over water after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of forward visibility and subsequent impact with the water.

Findings

Personnel issues Delayed action - Pilot

Environmental issues Low visibility - Effect on personnel

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern base VFR encounter with IMC (Defining event)

Approach-VFR pattern final Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Flight instructor

Age: 57,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used: 5-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: June 24, 2019

Occupational Pilot: Yes 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 6, 2019

Flight Time: (Estimated) 10156 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1282 hours (Total, this make and model), 9644 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 153 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 51 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 

Registration: N24MG

Model/Series: 208 B 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 2000 

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 

Serial Number: 208B0850

Landing Gear Type: Tricycle

Seats:

Date/Type of Last Inspection: January 2, 2020 Annual

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8752 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 1 Turbo prop

Airframe Total Time: 19184 Hrs as of last inspection

Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada

ELT: C126 installed, activated 

Engine Model/Series: PT6A-42A

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 850 Horsepower

Operator:

Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand air taxi (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Night

Observation Facility, Elevation: ACV

Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 06:45 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 190°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Visibility: 9 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

Precipitation and Obscuration:

Departure Point: Sacramento, CA (MHR )

Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR

Destination: Arcata/Eureka, CA (ACV )

Type of Clearance: IFR;VFR flight following

Departure Time: 05:30 Local

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: MURRAY FIELD EKA

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 10 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 12 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 3011 ft / 75 ft 

VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Straight-in

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor

Aircraft Damage: Destroyed

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Minor 

Latitude, Longitude: 40.823333,-124.14167(est)