Cessna 208B N12022

Summary

On 8 October 1997 at about 13:23 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N12022, operated by Scenic Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Montrose, Colorado, United States. 9 people were on board and 9 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 1997 at 13:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Montrose, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Montrose Regional (KMTJ)

Coordinates

38.4894, -107.8697

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N12022

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Scenic Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montrose → Page

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA98MA002

9 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed for undetermined reasons while maneuvering the airplane near the maximum gross weight and aft cg in or near instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in the loss of control and entry into a stall/spin. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision-making and his failure to use proper stall/spin recovery techniques.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane departed under visual flight rules (VFR) for a flight over mountainous terrain. It was tracked by radar from the departure area to the accident site. While climbing at the normal rate of climb to 15,400 feet, the airplane abruptly disappeared from radar. The wreckage was located among pine trees and exhibited evidence of a steep flightpath angle and damage consistent with a stall/spin event. Investigation revealed no indication of airframe or flight control anomalies, and the powerplant and propeller damage was consistent with engine operation at moderate to high power. Evidence indicated that the airplane was free of airframe ice at impact. Postaccident calculations indicate that the airplane was near the maximum certificated gross weight and aft center of gravity limit. The pilot did not maintain instrument flying currency and reportedly avoided instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Evidence indicated that the pilot did not use oxygen, as required (when flying above 12,000 feet). Ground observations and satellite and Doppler radar imagery indicated widespread cloudiness over the mountains west of Montrose on the day of the accident. Satellite data showed variable cloud tops higher than the airplane's flight altitude in the vicinity of the accident. The radar plot of the aircraft during the climb above 10,000 feet indicated course changes from the southwest to the northwest, back to the southwest and then a sharp turn to the right just prior to the rapid descent.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.