- Date
- December 21, 2010, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N233DSCessna 340A
- Defining event
- Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20101221053669A
- Case key
- 78058
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to check the de-ice fluid level prior to takeoff, which resulted in the failure of the de-ice system to clear the windshield of ice.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he attempted two landings at the original destination airport; however, due to the weather, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While on the instrument approach to the runway, the windshield became covered with ice and the de-ice system could not de-ice the windshield. The pilot then attempted the landing by looking out the left window. At 15 feet above the runway, the pilot noticed the airspeed was approximately 85 knots and the airplane stalled. The pilot added engine power; however, the airplane experienced a hard landing on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the forward fuselage was buckled and the de-ice fluid tank was empty. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. The pilot stated that he did not check the fluid level in the de-ice tank during the preflight inspection.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he attempted two landings at the original destination airport; however, due to the weather conditions, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While on the instrument approach to the runway, the windshield became covered with ice and the de-ice system could not de-ice the windshield. The pilot then attempted the landing by looking out the left window. At 15 feet above the runway, the pilot noticed the airspeed was approximately 85 knots and the airplane stalled. The pilot added engine power; however, the airplane experienced a hard landing on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the forward fuselage was buckled and the de-ice fluid tank was empty. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. The pilot stated that he did not check the fluid level in the de-ice tank during the pre-flight inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N233DS
- Reported as
- Cessna 340A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 340A0420
- Airframe hours
- 10,050
- Engines
- Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER, 310 horsepower, reciprocatingCont Motor TSIO-520 SER, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Wisconsin Aviation Inc
- Registered owner
- Wisconsin Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 2010
- Departed
- MSN · Madison, WI
- Destination
- MSN · Madison, WI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MSN · Dane County Regional Airport, runway 18, 9,005 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,421 total · 200 in this make and model · 11,078 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- MSN
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.