What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On the evening of 01-24-02 at approximately 1930 hours, a Cessna 208B, registration N8RQ attempted a take-off from rwy 23 at the Waterville, Maine airport (wvl). Weather conditions at this time was heavy blowing snow (white-out condition), 1/2 to 1" snow covered rwy and strong cross winds. Said aircraft was conducting a part 135 cargo operation (ups) from wvl to mht, operated by telford aviation, inc (air carrier certificate FTSA028E) and was piloted by rickey brown, a commercial pilot. There were no other sobs. Mr. Brown's attempted departure was on rwy 23 with winds at 360 degrees @ 15 knts with strong gusts. Approximately 800 feet after T/0 roll, the aircraft went to the left of the rwy centerline. The left main wheel went off the pavement @ approximately 1200 ft. and into deep snow (6-8 inches). The aircraft continued traveling the edge of the pavement in the deep snow for approximately 250 feet, then began turning to the left where the right main gear encountered the edge of the pavement and the deep snow. It is estimated that this is where the nose wheel began to rotate, as there were no nose wheel ruts in the snow. The aircraft continued its travel slightly left for approximately 50 feet when the left wing dug into the ground and the aircraft flipped over and came to rest inverted. The aircraft received substantial damage. The PIC received minor injuries to his left ear.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON THE EVENING OF 01-24-02 AT APPROXIMATELY 1930 HOURS, A CESSNA 208B, REGISTRATION N8RQ ATTEMPTED A TAKE-OFF FROM RWY 23 AT THE WATERVILLE, MAINE AIRPORT (WVL). WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME WAS HEAVY BLOWING SNOW (WHITE-OUT CONDITION), 1/2 TO 1" SNOW COVERED RWY AND STRONG CROSS WINDS. SAID AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING A PART 135 CARGO OPERATION (UPS) FROM WVL TO MHT, OPERATED BY TELFORD AVIATION, INC (AIR CARRIER CERTIFICATE FTSA028E) AND WAS PILOTED BY RICKEY BROWN, A COMMERCIAL PILOT. THERE WERE NO OTHER SOBS. MR. BROWN'S ATTEMPTED DEPARTURE WAS ON RWY 23 WITH WINDS AT 360 DEGREES @ 15 KNTS WITH STRONG GUSTS. APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET AFTER T/0 ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT WENT TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL WENT OFF THE PAVEMENT @ APPROXIMATELY 1200 FT. AND INTO DEEP SNOW (6-8 INCHES). THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TRAVELING THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT IN THE DEEP SNOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET, THEN BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT AND THE DEEP SNOW. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THIS IS WHERE THE NOSE WHEEL BEGAN TO ROTATE, AS THERE WERE NO NOSE WHEEL RUTS IN THE SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS TRAVEL SLIGHTLY LEFT FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET WHEN THE LEFT WING DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PIC RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS LEFT EAR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.