Cessna 208B N8RQ

Summary

On 25 January 2002 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N8RQ was involved in an accident near Waterville, Maine, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 January 2002 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterville, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Waterville Robert Lafleur (WVL)

Coordinates

44.5333, -69.6833

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N8RQ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waterville → Manchester

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD02LA027

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper decision to attempt a takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a quartering tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Snow fell as the pilot attempted a takeoff from the snow-covered runway. The reported wind was 130 degrees from the right at 16, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot selected the runway, in part, because of a 1.2 percent downslope. The pilot rotated the nose of the airplane at 80 knots, and the airplane "pulled" to the left. The pilot lowered the nose and reduced power, but the airplane continued to "slide" to the left, off the runway, and into 6 to 8 inches of snow. It then nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.