Cessna 208B N4688B

Summary

On 30 January 1990 at about 02:00 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N4688B, operated by Business Air, Inc., was involved in an accident near Williston, Vermont, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 January 1990 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Williston, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Burlington (BTV)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N4688B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Business Air, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Albany

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC90FA061

2 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DE-ICE THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND HIS DECISION TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF AT A WEIGHT THAT EXCEEDED BOTH THE MAXIMUM STRUCTURAL TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE REDUCED TAKEOFF WEIGHT ALLOWED FOR ICING CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN INADEVERTENT STALL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO DEICE THE WINGS PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF AND OVERLOADED THE AIRPLANE BY 360 LBS STRUCTURALLY AND 1100 LBS FOR FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS. THERE WAS MODERATE SNOW FALLING AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS DESCRIBED AS LONG AND A WITNESS SAW THE WINGS ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, CRASHED AND BURNED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND SNOW CONTAMINATION ON THE TOP OF ONE WING THAT DID NOT BURN AND THE TOP OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS AND ELEVATORS. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.