Beechcraft 65-B80 N107BA

Summary

On 8 February 2001 at about 02:30 local time, a Beechcraft 65-B80 registered N107BA was involved in an accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 February 2001 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Joe Foss Field (FSD)

Coordinates

43.5394, -96.7293

Aircraft

Beechcraft 65-B80

Registration

N107BA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alexandria → Sioux Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI01LA082

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot initiated the flight into known icing conditions which resulted in his ability to maintain control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the ice accumulation and the company induced pressure for the pilot to make the flight into the adverse weather conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane operating on a 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight impacted the terrain during a circling approach at Sioux Falls after picking up ice which en route. During a weather briefing the pilot was informed that the weather at his destination airport was " two miles light freezing drizzle and fog eight hundred overcast for a ceiling ah their forecast til midnight is one mile variable four miles light freezing drizzle and fog five hundred overcast..." The briefer asked the pilot if he still wanted to go there and the pilot reported "Ya I guess they said I have to." The pilot reported that he began picking up ice approximately 50 miles from the destination and the accumulation increased as the flight progressed. The pilot informed ATC that he was picking up a lot of ice and ATC issued the VOR RWY 15 approach to the pilot. ATC asked the pilot if he wanted to fly the approach straight in or if he wanted to circle to land on runway 3. The pilot reported that he would circle. The pilot reported that while circling to land the airplane began to "shutter". He stated that the de-ice boots had become ineffective. The pilot reported he applied full power and the airplane continued to shutter at zero degrees bank. He continued to report, "It became apparent I could not make the runway at this point. I had to lower the nose to keep the aircraft from stalling. At approximately 50 feet I lowered the landing gear and crashed straight ahead into a highway dept. equipment storage yard." A post crash fire ensued. According to the pilot, he voiced his concerns regarding the weather for the flight to company dispatch personnel and requested to fly to an alternate airport; however, he was directed to fly to Sioux Falls.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.