The weather conditions — overcast at 100 feet and a temp of 1 degree celsius — were such that icing could have easily occurred at the altitude indicated for the initial approach phase. Also, the approach was abandoned and therefore the pilot spent quite a bit of time between 1000 and 3200 feet, during which a fatal amount of ice might have accumulated.
The comment about icing occurring on one wing and not the other is incorrect; an aircraft flying into icing with no deicing equipment will have ice collecting on both wings at the same rate regardless whether the a/c is turning or not. (Unless the a/c’s in a helluva full rudder pedal skid or slip.) Also, the Saratoga is single-engine, so there is no airflow over the wings that is provided by the propeller.
I don’t believe that this accident is another neo-con conspiracy. Sadly, it’s probably another relatively low-time pilot making fatal errors in judgement.
First of all, here’s the NTSB’s prelim. report:
< http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20081223X12815&key=1 >
The weather conditions — overcast at 100 feet and a temp of 1 degree celsius — were such that icing could have easily occurred at the altitude indicated for the initial approach phase. Also, the approach was abandoned and therefore the pilot spent quite a bit of time between 1000 and 3200 feet, during which a fatal amount of ice might have accumulated.
The comment about icing occurring on one wing and not the other is incorrect; an aircraft flying into icing with no deicing equipment will have ice collecting on both wings at the same rate regardless whether the a/c is turning or not. (Unless the a/c’s in a helluva full rudder pedal skid or slip.) Also, the Saratoga is single-engine, so there is no airflow over the wings that is provided by the propeller.
I don’t believe that this accident is another neo-con conspiracy. Sadly, it’s probably another relatively low-time pilot making fatal errors in judgement.
May he rest in Peace.
j.