Aviation Accident Summary FTW90FA005

UNCERTAIN, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N208W

CESSNA 208

Analysis

THE ACFT TOOK OFF AT NGT FROM A PVT/UNLIGHTED STRIP WITH A PROFESSIONAL (ATP) PLT & THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED OWNER/PLT AT THE CONTROLS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENTERED A SLIGHT LEFT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT THE TOP OF A TALL PINE TREE, ABOUT 80 FT AGL & 202 FT LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED INTO OTHER TREES AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 450 FT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE WHICH PLT WAS ACTUALLY FLYING THE ACFT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED THE OWNER HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.041% (41 MG/DL) & A URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.012% (12 MG/DL). TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PROFESSIONAL PLT'S BLOOD & URINE WERE NEGATIVE FOR ALCOHOL.

Probable Cause and Findings

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND FAILURE OF THE AIRCREW TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND CLEARANCE FROM THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) BESIDE THE RUNWAY. RELATED FACTORS WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, LACK OF RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS, LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION BY THE PILOT(S), AND TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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