Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501
Saturday, December 28, 1996 11:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

There were five recorded transmissions of conversations from one of the pilots aboard the accident airplane and the Fort Dodge, Iowa AFSS; one on 12/27 and four on 12/28. The weather forecast for icing included wording such as '...moderate to isolated severe icing from seven thousand downward for your entire route of flight....' The pilot stated that he received 'Full Flight Service briefings...' and also indicated that he spoke to flight watch prior to takeoff. While executing the ILS approach to the destination airport, the pilot was unable to maintain the proper glidepath even with the application of full power. The pilot maintained marginal control of the airplane during the descent until impact with trees and the terrain about 10 miles west of the destination airport. The pilot and passengers reported 'vibration' and 'shudder' of the airplane prior to the impact. One passenger reported that she saw ice forming on the left 'rear' wings. Persons on the ground reported severe icing conditions around the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command's inadequate weather evaluation and continued flight into forecast severe icing conditions which exceeded the capabilty of the airplane's anti-ice/deice system. The icing conditions were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City RHINELANDER
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54501
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KRH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1623
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 8
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1811
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1310
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N998VB
NTSB Number CHI97FA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model C90
Aircraft Series Identifier C90
Aircraft Serial Number LJ-785
Certified Max Gross Weight 10500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Aug 27 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 103
Airframe Hours 6301
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MUTUAL SECURITY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3700 HARRISON ST.
Aircraft Owner City DAVENPORT
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52806
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MLI
Departure City MOLINE
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RHI
Destination City
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --