Loss of control Accident Cessna 340A N255BC,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 193819
 
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Date:Friday 24 February 2017
Time:18:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic C340 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna 340A
Owner/operator:Signicast Llc
Registration: N255BC
MSN: 340A0908
Year of manufacture:1979
Total airframe hrs:5644 hours
Engine model:Continental TSIO-520 NB
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Waukesha Airport, Waukesha, WI -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:Juneau-Dodge County Airport, WI (UNU/KUNU)
Destination airport:Waukesha Airport, WI (UES/KUES)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Before the positioning flight, the airline transport pilot monitored the weather and noticed the weather conditions were deteriorating near the time of the planned departure. The weather conditions included low visibility, freezing drizzle, and mist. In an effort to reduce the time in the deteriorating weather conditions, the pilot performed some before takeoff checks while the airplane was in the hangar. During the pilot’s “haste” to preflight and take off, she inadvertently selected the wrong switch for windshield heat. While on the instrument approach to the runway in night conditions, the pilot had no forward visibility due to ice accumulation on the windshield. The pilot executed a missed approach and contacted an instructor pilot at the departure airport to confirm the location of the windshield heat switch. The pilot then activated the windshield heat switch and enough ice had melted for the pilot to conduct another approach. During the approach, the pilot increased the airspeed due to “carrying a lot of ice.” On short final approach, the airplane descended below the glidepath due to the ice accumulation. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the terrain short of the runway and then “skipped” onto the runway. The airplane came to rest upright and off the runway surface. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to fly in in conditions conducive to structural icing and her subsequent failure to maintain airplane control during the instrument approach.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN17CA114
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N255BC

FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N255BC

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
25-Feb-2017 18:19 Geno Added
19-Aug-2017 14:15 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
08-Nov-2022 06:02 Ron Averes Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source]

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