Beechcraft BE-18 N3281T

Summary

On 9 March 1989 at about 11:17 local time, a Beechcraft BE-18 registered N3281T, operated by Ajax Leasing Inc, was involved in an accident near Covington, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 March 1989 at 11:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Covington, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Cincinnati (CVG)

Coordinates

39.0005, -84.5807

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-18

Registration

N3281T

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Ajax Leasing Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Covington → Detroit Metro

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89FA098

1 person died.

PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH COATING OF FROST ON THE AIRFRAME WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFT DURING CLIMBOUT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

N3281T WAS ATTEMPTING AN INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE WHEN IT CRASHED LEFT OF THE EXTENDED CENTER LINE OF RUNWAY 18. THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED CLIMBING THROUGH 200 FEET PRIOR TO DESCENDING TO THE GROUND. PRIOR TO TAXIING TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT FAILED TO DEICE THE AIRFRAME. AIRPLANES ON THE PARKING RAMP AROUND N3281T DEICED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. WEATHER REPORTS INDICATED THAT TEMP/DEW POINT WERE 26 AND 23 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. THE SURFACE OBSERVATION ALSO REPORTED FOG AS A RESTRICTION TO VISIBILITY. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE'S HANDBOOK THAT TESTS PROVE THAT A COAT OF FROST ON A WING CAN DESTROY ITS LIFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.