NTSB Update: What Forced N76U Down? | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Fri, Jun 11, 2004

NTSB Update: What Forced N76U Down?

Agency Probes Mysterious Red Marks

The following is an update of the NTSB's investigation into the October 23, 2002, crash of a Mid Atlantic Freight Cessna 208B (N76U) cargo airplane in a swamp near Spanish Fort (AL).

Shortly after takeoff at night from the Mobile Downtown Airport, in Mobile (AL) the airplane was level northeast bound at 3000 feet and initiated a descent. At 2400 feet, radar contact was lost. The airplane crashed about one-half to 1 mile south of the radar track. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed.

The wreckage that has been recovered was sent to laboratory facilities at the NTSB Academy in Ashburn (VA) for a two-dimensional layout and detailed examinations. The examinations have revealed that significant portions from all of the major structural components of the airplane, including the flight control surfaces have been recovered from the accident site. A third propeller blade was recently discovered at the accident site and arrangements are being made to ship the propeller to the NTSB. The major components of the propeller assembly have now been accounted for.

Numerous red transfer marks were noted on the wreckage, and a detailed mapping of all 34 of these marks was performed. The majority of marks were found in and above the forward area of the cargo pod. The marks exhibited a random, smearing or rubbing pattern, rather than a unidirectional and/or penetrating pattern. Investigators also collected 20 samples of potential sources of red material from items in the wreckage for additional laboratory analysis in order to perform a comparison of these materials with the transfer marks.

Additional examinations of the wreckage also revealed that a small, previously unidentified piece of black debris that was found imbedded in a wing panel was from a portion of an electrical dimmer light assembly that was installed in the airplane. 

Examination of the wreckage also indicates that the airplane impacted the swamp at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, in a nose-down attitude, and in a right bank.

Radar data shows that the C-208 (file photo, above) was not in a position to encounter the wake turbulence from a nearby DC-10.

The Board's investigation continues. The following activities are on-going: aircraft performance computer simulations, a cockpit visibility study, laboratory analysis of red materials found in the wreckage, metallurgical examination of the propeller blades, and research into the specific cargo carried on the airplane.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1

Airplane Bounced About 3 Ft Then Touched Back Down And Then, With No Brakes Applied, The Airplane Began Veering To The Left Analysis: The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.08.25)

Aero Linx: British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) The primary focus within all aviation activity is SAFETY. In all aspects of our sport SAFETY must come first, whether it b>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Fly Corvair’s Reliable Engine Alternative

From SnF25 (YouTube Edition): William Wynne Builds Practical Aircraft Engines on the Corvair Platform Seeking an affordable alternative to the traditional aircraft engine options, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: CiES Fuel-Quantity and e-Throttle Systems Praised

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Bridge of CiES CiES Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based designer and manufacturer of modular embedded aircraft systems and sensors. The company’s fuel-l>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC