# Accident 20210816015009A: Cessna 208B, Fairbanks, AK, August 16, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2021, 14:52 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HYTA
- Location: 64.9359° N, 148.2041° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9359&lon=-148.2041&mi=10
- Aircraft: N97HA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97HA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 208B (registry code 2073701, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 456 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA073) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210816015009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ 8/16/2021

SUMMARY NARRATIVE:

AT APPROXIMATELY 1452 AKDT ON AUGUST 16, 2021 A ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CESSNA 208, N97HA, CALL SIGN^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF CONTROL EVENT AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MSL WHILE ENROUTE FROM FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (FAI) TO HUSLIA (HSL) AK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AT THE TIME.  THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED STEEP SPIRAL DIVE TO THE RIGHT WHILE DESCENDING TO APPROXIMATELY 2500 MSL (APPROXIMATELY 1000 AGL) WHERE THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.  EIGHT PASSENGERS AND ONE PILOT WERE ON BOARD; THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT AILERON IN THE DESCENT. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ATC AND FLEW THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO FAI WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NO INJURIES TO PASSENGERS OR PILOT WAS REPORTED.

POST FLIGHT INSPECTION BY COMPANY PERSONNEL, TEXTRON, NTSB REPRESENTATIVES, AND FAA PERSONNEL DISCOVERED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES OR AVIONICS FAILURE.

EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS SUBJECT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED INTO FORECAST ICING CONDITION AT A TAKE OFF WEIGHT FAR EXCEEDING PUBLISHED AIRCRAFT LIMITATIONS. ATC RECORDINGS AND PILOT INTERVIEWS OF OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY CONFIRMS MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS, OR WORSE, PREVAILED AT ALTITUDES SUBJECT AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING AT. ONBOARD AIRCRAFT DATA COLLECTED CONFIRMS PIC FAILED TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM REQUIRED AIR SPEEDS FOR FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL AND AIRCRAFT LOSS OF CONTROL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC21LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA073), Aug 16, 2021: Cessna 208 (N97HA), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s unexpected encounter with supercooled liquid droplets (SLD), which resulted in a loss of control due to ice accumulation. Contributing to the accident were: (1) the pilot’s failure to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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