Yes... Sometimes Mother Nature Really Is A (Expletive
Deleted)
Strong gusty winds are a tough gig to deal with, appear to have
some contributory factor in this accident -- though winds straight
down the runway sound a bit off the mark for the suddent
bank/behavior reported by witnesses to the accident... we look
forward to seeing what else the NTSB comes up with in this
accident... one that had fatal consequences for the freight
pilot.
NTSB Identification: ERA12FA007
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 05, 2011 in Matinicus Island,
ME
Aircraft: CESSNA 207A, registration: N70437
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On October 5, 2011, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna
207A, N70437, registered to Waters Aero-Marine, Inc., operated by
Penobscot Island Air, crashed during approach to land at Matinicus
Island Airport (35ME), Matinicus Island, Maine. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company
visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand, non-scheduled,
domestic freight flight from Knox County Regional Airport (RKD),
Rockland, Maine, to 35ME. The certificated commercial pilot, the
sole occupant, was killed. The flight originated from RKD about
1715.
According to Penobscot Island Air’s dispatch log, at 1728,
the pilot broadcast that he was landing at the destination airport;
there was no further communication from the pilot.
A witness who was waiting at the destination airport for the
arrival of the flight reported watching the airplane approach the
north/south oriented runway from the south. It appeared to the
witness that the airplane was east of the extended centerline of
the runway. The witness reported that the wind at the time was
straight down the runway at 35 to 40 knots. He also reported there
was a wind gust slightly higher than the steady wind of 35 to 40
knots. The witness reported that suddenly, the airplane banked to
the right with the wings being nearly vertical. When asked to
clarify, he though the bank angle was approximately 80 degrees. The
airplane turned to the east, and began descending, but he did not
hear the impact. He drove to the area where he thought the airplane
would be located, but could not locate it. He then drove down
another road and when he arrived there were 2 people already on
scene at the crash site. The witness further reported that the
engine sound was steady (like power was applied) during the entire
approach and at no time did he hear the engine falter.