Over a month ago, a small plane had crashed in Alaska, leaving all of its 10 passengers dead. Although we didn't initially know why the plane crashed on February 6, we now have some insight into the incident's cause.
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According to the Daily Mail, the Bering Air Cessna Caravan crashed into the freezing ocean around 30 miles southeast of Nome. The plane was headed toward the city of Unalakleet before it disappeared. Then one day later, the recovery operation found the plane debris.
The Reason Behind The Plane Crash In Alaska That Killed 10
This new report suggests that the plane crash occurred due to the icy weather. The aircraft was too heavy to fly in those conditions, possibly leading to the disaster. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board also noted subtle ice accumulation on the plane. This could've easily led to the plane damage which caused the malfunction.
Not only that, but during these conditions this plane would only be able to manage around 8,800 pounds. Unfortunately, the aircraft took off carrying around 9,800 pounds. This is around 1,000 pounds over the limit for the icy conditions, so the plane shouldn't have flown in the first place.
NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson revealed to Anchorage News just how overloaded this plane was. "It's the passengers, the pilot, the fuel on board ... in addition to cargo," he explained. "Tools, everything you could possibly imagine coming out of the Bush."
Although the baggage and cargo were only around 800 pounds, everything else added weighed it down. The aircraft also held an additional cargo pod that the FAA certificated. This would allow it to operate under a heavier maximum weight, but only in normal weather conditions. When it came to icy conditions, it was not possible.
The weather conditions didn't come unexpectantly. The aviation weather warnings issues that day called for "occasional moderate icing" between 2,000 and 8,000 feet. Nome's weather observations also warned about "trace icing" starting before 3 PM the day of the crash.
As for the passengers, all were adults, and the plane consisted of one pilot and nine passengers. Sources reported that two of the passengers were on a work trip for a non-profit tribal health organization.
