Akron-Canton Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Akron, Ohio 44720
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 9:13 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane departed on an instrument flight rules flight plan. At 2,500 feet, the airplane entered the clouds and immediately "picked up real heavy ice." The wing, propeller, and windshield deicing systems were activated. The windshield's "weeping" alcohol system could not keep pace with the ice buildup, and the windshield blurred "within seconds." Ice accumulated on the wing deicing boots while they were inflated, and ice shedding from the propellers was heard throughout the flight. The pilot requested and was cleared for a localizer approach back to the departure airport. On short final, he could see the runway out the side window, but aborted the landing. The pilot continued to an alternate airport, and completed an airport surveillance radar approach to the airport. About 5 feet above the runway surface, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane "just fell from the sky." The airplane landed hard on all three landing gear simultaneously. An AIRMET was issued for the area surrounding the departure airport and along the intended route of flight for moderate icing in clouds and precipitation below 15,000 feet, with conditions continuing throughout the day. At takeoff, the weather reported at the departure airport included an overcast ceiling at 1,300 feet, with 2 ½ miles of visibility in light freezing rain and mist. The temperature was 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dewpoint was 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The freezing rain began around the time of departure. Prior to departure, the pilot did not receive a weather briefing from FAA flight service, nor did he check for pilot reports (PIREPS). Examination of delivery documents, and the airplane owner's manual, revealed that the airplane was not equipped with the option package that allowed for "flight in icing conditions as defined by the FAA."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain a complete weather briefing, which resulted in an inadequate weather decision, and flight into known icing conditions. A factor was the airplane not being equipped for flight in icing conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/19/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 913
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Akron
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44720
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410215N
Event Location Longitude 0812801W
Event Location Airport AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CAK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1228
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 937 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1228
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report KAKR 191354Z AUTO 20015KT 2 1/2SM -FZRA BR OVC013
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19186
NTSB Notification Source CLE FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jan 26 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland, Ohio

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5DS
NTSB Number IAD05LA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 414
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 414-0486
Certified Max Gross Weight 6350
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4086
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jerold P. Ramsey
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Akron
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44319
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jerold Ramsey
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Akron
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 44319
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AKR
Departure City AKRON
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 840
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RDG
Destination City READING
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 22 2005 1:39PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --