ERA12FA007

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the approach after encountering a gusty crosswind, which resulted in an accelerated stall and uncontrolled descent.

About the time of departure, the wind at the departure airport was reported to be from 330 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots. The pilot departed with an adequate supply of fuel for the intended 15-minute cargo flight to a nearby island. He entered a left traffic pattern to runway 36 at the destination airport and turned onto final approach with 30 degrees of flaps extended. Witnesses on the island reported that, about this time, a sudden wind gust from the west occurred. A witness (a fisherman by trade) at the airport estimated the wind direction was down the runway at 35 to 40 knots, with slightly higher wind gusts. After the sudden wind gust, he noted the airplane suddenly bank to the right about 80 degrees and begin descending. It impacted trees and powerlines then the ground. The same witness reported the engine sound was steady during the entire approach and at no time did he hear the engine falter. About 30 minutes before the accident, a weather observing station located about 6 nautical miles south-southeast of the accident site indicated the wind from the north-northwest at 24 knots, with gusts to 27 knots. About 30 minutes after the accident, the station indicated the wind from the northwest at 30 knots, with gusts to 37 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane, its systems, and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The evidence is consistent with the airplane’s encounter with a gusty crosswind that led to the airplane’s right bank and the pilot’s loss of control, resulting in an accelerated stall.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT 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 cargo flight from Knox County Regional Airport (RKD), Rockland, Maine, to 35ME. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated from RKD about 1715. The purpose of the flight was to transport groceries from RKD to residents who lived on Matinicus Island, Maine. The flight departed RKD about 1715, for the planned 15 minute flight. A total of 350 pounds of groceries were reportedly on-board. 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 is not a pilot, but is a fisherman by trade, was waiting at the destination airport for the arrival of the flight. The witness reported that the wind at the time was straight down the runway at 35 to 40 knots, but there was a wind gust slightly higher than the steady state wind speed. He reported hearing the airplane circle the airport and looked to the south to watch the approach. He noted the airplane was in a nose low descending turn (consistent with a turn onto final approach), and when it was on short final approach, the airplane was about 75 to 80 feet above ground level (agl) and east of a barn located south of the approach end of runway 36. 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. Several witnesses reported hearing the engine revving at full power before hearing the sound of the impact. One witness who was near the airport reported hearing a, “loud rapid revving of an airplane’s engine, then a loud crash.” He and another individual immediately ran to the accident site to render assistance. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 56, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating and held a second class medical certificate issued November 15, 2010, with a restriction to wear corrective lenses. On his last medical application he listed a total time of 3,100 hours, and reported taking Atorvastatin, which is a lipid lowering agent used to treat lipid disorders and elevated cholesterol. The pilot was hired by Penobscot Island Air in December 2004, and became qualified as PIC in the Cessna 207 in August 2005. He was also qualified in the Cessna 206 airplane. His last airman competency/proficiency check in accordance with 14 CFR Part 135.293 titled, “Initial and recurrent pilot testing requirements” and also 14 CFR 135.299 titled, “Pilot in command: Line checks: Routes and airports” was performed on August 23, 2011. The flight duration was recorded to be 1.2 hours and the results were listed as “approved.” The flight was conducted in a Cessna 207 airplane, and included crosswind landings with the result listed as satisfactory. In the previous 90 days excluding October 4th and 5th, he flew approximately 52 hours, and in the last 30 days excluding October 4th and 5th he flew approximately 6 hours. In 2011, excluding flights in October the day before and the day of the accident, he had accrued a total time of 95.5 hours flying for Penobscot Island Air. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was manufactured in 1979 by Cessna Aircraft Company as model 207A, and was designated serial number 20700552. It was powered by a Continental Motors, Inc. (formerly Teledyne Continental Motors), 300 horsepower IO-520-F engine, and equipped with a Hartzell HC-C3YF-1RF constant speed propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane was last inspected in accordance with a 100-Hour inspection on September 23, 2011; the airplane total time at that time was recorded to be approximately 17,105 hours. The airplane total time at the time of the accident was approximately 17,138 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A surface observation weather report taken at RKD (departure airport) at 1715, or about the time the accident flight departed indicated the wind was from 320 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots. The visibility was 10 statute miles, and scattered clouds existed at 4,700 and 5,000 feet, while broken clouds existed at 8,000 feet. The temperature and dew point were 11 and 1 degree Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 29.98 inches of Mercury. The accident site was located approximately 15 nautical miles and 142 degrees from RKD. A surface observation weather report taken at RKD at 1735, or approximately 5 minutes after the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 5 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The visibility was 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, broken clouds existed at 6,500 feet. The temperature and dew point were 8 and 1 degree Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 30.00 inches of Mercury. A National Data Buoy Center Station identified as MISM1, located at 43 degrees 47 minutes 0 seconds North latitude and 68 degrees 51 minutes 18 seconds West longitude, takes observations on the hour. A sounding at 1700 hours local on the day of the accident indicates the wind was from the NNW at 24 knots with gusts to 27 knots, the pressure was 29.94 inches of Mercury. A sounding at 1800 hours local on the day of the accident indicates the wind was from the NW at 30 knots with gusts to 37 knots, the pressure was 29.97 inches of Mercury. The accident site was located about 6 nautical miles north-northwest of MISM1 location. One individual who lives on the Island reported to FAA that after hearing the accident he drove to the airport and when he was near there, he noted the wind was from all directions and also there were 3 foot tall swirling dust devils. Another individual who heard the airplane fly over his house on the south side of the Island got onto an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and he and his brother drove to the airport to meet the flight. The individual reported that when they were near the airport, they were hit with a gust of freezing rain/sleet for about 60 seconds with strong winds requiring them to take off their glasses because they could not see. After returning home his sister stated that the sky got “really black and the wind picked up when they left….” A witness who was located near the approach end of runway 36 reported seeing the airplane over the barn which was a normal position. The individual then reported that a, “queer gust of wind” hit the house from a westerly direction which blew plants and other items from the porch. The same individual reported that the wind had been gusty all day most out of the northwest, but the gust while the airplane was on short final approach was really abrupt. COMMUNICATIONS The pilot was last in contact with company personnel. There were no reported communication difficulties. AIRPORT INFORMATION The Matinicus Island Airport is equipped with a single gravel runway designated 18/36, which is 1,700 feet long and 30 feet wide. A single story barn structure w