Cessna 208 N706FX

Summary

On 5 March 2020 at about 14:15 local time, a Cessna 208 registered N706FX, operated by CSA Air, Inc, was involved in an accident near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 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

5 March 2020 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Rhinelander, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Rhinelander-Oneida County (RHI)

Coordinates

45.6314, -89.4819

Aircraft

Cessna 208

Registration

N706FX

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

CSA Air, Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milwaukee → Rhinelander

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA119

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper decision to continue an instrument approach to landing following a loss of visual reference with the runway, which resulted in the airplane touching down left of the runway in snow and flipping over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, upon reaching the decision altitude on a GPS instrument approach, he saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. Shortly after, the lights disappeared and then reappeared. He continued the approach and landing thinking the airplane was lined up with the runway by using the runway edge lights for reference. Upon touching down about 225 ft left of the runway, the airplane dug into snow and flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and tail. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.