# NTSB CEN20CA119: Cessna 208, N706FX, Rhinelander, WI, March 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 5, 2020, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Rhinelander, WI - Coordinates: 45.631389, -89.481941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6314&lon=-89.4819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101066/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to continue an instrument approach to landing following a loss of visual reference with the runway, which resulted in the airplane touching down left of the runway in snow and flipping over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon reaching the decision altitude on a GPS instrument approach, he saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. Shortly after, the lights disappeared and then reappeared. He continued the approach and landing thinking the airplane was lined up with the runway by using the runway edge lights for reference. Upon touching down about 225 ft left of the runway, the airplane dug into snow and flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and tail. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that upon reaching the decision altitude on a GPS instrument approach, he saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. Shortly thereafter the lights disappeared and then reappeared. He continued the approach and landing thinking he was lined up with the runway by using the runway edge lights for reference. Upon touching down, the airplane dug into the snow and flipped over resulting in substantial damage to the wings and tail. The airplane landed about 225ft left of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N706FX (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208 (B) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0426 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 11458 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A SER 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: CSA Air, Inc - Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 21, 2020, 64 hours before - Departed: MKE, Milwaukee, WI - Destination: RHI, Rhinelander, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RHI, Rhinelander-Oneida County, runway 27, 6,799 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, ADS-B, Video recording device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 30, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 7,245 total, 3,684 in this make and model, 6,109 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: KRHI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200305001519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200305001519A), Mar 5, 2020: Cessna 208B, Rhinelander, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on runway 27 and crashed under unknown circumstances in the area between the runway and taxiway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.