A Sad Accident

On 2007-10-09 09:52:32 -0700, RL Anderson said:

Greetings All,

Thought I'd pass on that there has been a horrific crash this past
Sunday (7 Oct). There was a Caravan used for skydiving, with 10 people
aboard, traveling between Star Idaho and Shelton Washington. The
airplane went down in the general vicinity of White Pass, a 4500 foot
mountain pass on US 12, located on the boundary of Yakima and Lewis
Counties, in the South Central Washington Cascade Mountains. According
to local news, no survivors have been found. I am acquainted with
several skydivers and some of the other folks at the aircraft owner,
Skydive Kapowsin. I hope that none of the folks I know are involved.

Here are some links to the story.

http://www.herald-republic.com/page/dis/290013970261411

http://www.herald-republic.com/page/dis/290013901892319

Pass on as you see fit.

Rick

This is a well-known airplane. I know people who have considerable time
in this very plane. It has boots, but it is not certified for known
ice. IIRC, this particular plane does not have prop deice. The boots
are good for about three shots at getting rid of ice. The pilot was
flying VFR just above the freezing level in rainy weather. He was
squawking 1200 and not talking to anyone at the time.

It is probable he was on autopilot. If the plane was icing up, he might
not have noticed the spinning trim wheel attempting to maintain
altitude. By the time he did notice it, it might well have been too
late. Other Caravans have been lost in just this manner.

The icing conditions in these mountains are some of the worst in the
world. The FAA calls it the Great North Cascades Ice Machine. It is
well named. The weather is unpredictable and in passes like White Pass
can change very suddenly. You think you are just motoring along in the
dark at a safe altitude and it is very easy to become complacent. In
fact, I don't know a pilot in the world who, tired, flying on
autopilot, listening to the drone of the engine, etc., is not likely to
lose focus. At night you can fly into a weather system and never know
it. I know several pilots who were surprised to learn that they had
been in clouds for a long time, perhaps hours.

Weather conditions at the time appear to have been nearly perfect for
an icing accident. Of course, that is how the weather is most of the
time there. It is a rotten place to fly single pilot at night.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor