Alaska Plane Crash: NTSB Says Overweight Flight Likely Factor

A recent commuter plane crash in Alaska has claimed the lives of all 10 passengers and crew members on board. The Bering Air flight, en route from Unalakleet to Nome, vanished on February 6th, prompting a search and rescue operation by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered days later, resting on sea ice approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since released a preliminary report detailing the findings of their investigation.

Weight Exceeded Maximum Limits

According to the NTSB report, the aircraft, a Textron Aviation 208B, was significantly overweight at the time of takeoff. Post-accident examination revealed that the baggage and cargo weighed approximately 798 lbs. This, combined with the weight of the passengers and crew, resulted in an estimated gross takeoff weight of about 9,865 lbs.

Crucially, this exceeded the maximum takeoff gross weight for flight into known or forecast icing conditions by approximately 1,058 lbs, as stipulated by the manufacturer. The NTSB noted that the pilot operating handbook supplement relating to the TKS ice protection system specified that the maximum allowable takeoff gross weight for such flights was 8,807 lbs.

Aircraft Modifications and Icing Conditions

The aircraft was equipped with a TKS ice protection system designed to prevent the accumulation of airframe ice. However, despite this system, the NTSB report indicated that ice accumulation was observed on the rear stabilizers of the aircraft after the crash. This suggests that the icing conditions may have played a role in the incident.

The NTSB also revealed that the airplane had an Aircraft Payload Extender III (APE III) system installed, which increased the maximum gross takeoff weight to 9,062 lbs. Nevertheless, at the time of the crash, the aircraft was still approximately 803 lbs over the maximum gross takeoff weight specified in the APE III flight manual supplement.

Pilot Experience and Victim Information

The pilot involved in the crash had accumulated around 2,500 hours of total flight time, including 1,060 hours in 208B airplanes. Among the victims were Rhone Baumgartner, 46, and Kameron Hartvigson, 41, who were traveling to Nome to work on a heat recovery system servicing the community's water plant. The pilot, identified as Chad Antill, 34, of Nome, was also among the fatalities.

The other victims included Liane Ryan, 52, of Wasilla; Donnell Erickson, 58, of Nome; Andrew Gonzalez, 30, of Wasilla; Jadee Moncur, 52, of Eagle River; Ian Hofmann, 45, of Anchorage; Talaluk Katchatag, 34, of Unalakleet, and Carol Mooers, 48, of Unalakleet.

The NTSB continues to investigate the crash, with a senior aerospace engineer conducting a detailed review of the airplane's performance, including an evaluation of the aircraft's center of gravity location. The investigation aims to determine the contributing factors that led to this tragic accident.