Overweight Bering Air aircraft experienced a crash in Alaska, according to a recent NTSB report.
Tragic Alaska Crash: A Preliminary Investigation
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a regional airline flight in Alaska, claimed the lives of all 10 aboard, as the Cessna Grand Caravan, operated by Bering Air as flight 445, crashed. The incident occurred about 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska, on February 6.
The gray skies and ice-laced waters of Norton Sound later revealed the aircraft, initially reported missing, on February 7. The shifting icepack, subjected to tidal ocean currents, posed a challenge for search and rescue operations as it incessantly drifted about 5 to 10 miles daily, according to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) report.
Upon closer examination, the NTSB uncovered that the airplane's estimated gross takeoff weight surpassed the limitations under both icing and better weather conditions. The aircraft weighed approximately 9,865 pounds at departure, tipping the scales by around 1,058 pounds beyond the threshold for flights in icing conditions. The weight was also a massive 803 pounds over the absolute maximum takeoff weight for the aircraft type.
Light snow, icing traces, and a chilly 12-degree temperature were present around the time of the accident. The wreckage revealed that the aircraft shattered on impact, with signs of icing on the tail.
A senior aerospace engineer will conduct an in-depth analysis of the aircraft's performance as part of the investigation, scrutinizing the aircraft's center of gravity, among other factors. The NTSB is also delving into the plane's flight path, pilot-Anchorage Air Traffic Control communications, and onboard avionics data.
It's essential to note that this preliminary report does not establish the probable cause of the crash, a determination typically taking the NTSB a year or longer.
The small commuter aircraft, initially bound for Nome, was carrying nine passengers and one pilot when it met its tragic demise. The disaster left the close-knit community of Nome, accustomed to traversing Alaska's expansive landscapes via small aircraft, in shock.
The tragedy in Alaska came a week after a confluent crash involving an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk Helicopter in Washington, DC, resulting in the loss of 67 lives. Both disasters rank among the deadliest US plane incidents within the last decade.
- The small commuter aircraft, initially bound for Nome, was carrying nine passengers and one pilot.
- The tragedy in Alaska occurred about 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska, on February 6, with light snow, icing traces, and a chilly 12-degree temperature present around the time of the accident.
- The close-knit community of Nome was left in shock by the disaster, as they are accustomed to traversing Alaska's expansive landscapes via small aircraft.
