On December 31, 1997, a Cessna 402B (registration N5087Q) operated by Sioux Falls Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Watertown, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to perform an aircraft preflight and to remove the ice which had accumulated on the airframe. A factor involved in the accident was the icing weather conditions which existed and the ice which accumulated on the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An airplane landed at Watertown, loaded and off-loaded cargo, then departed. Witnesses reported bouncing and buffeting at low altitude. The airplane descended, impacted terrain, and exploded. Post-accident inspection revealed rime ice on the left horizontal stabilizer.
Incident Overview
A pilot landed an airplane at Watertown to load and off-load cargo. Without exiting the aircraft, the pilot departed the location. A witness observed the airplane passing over the runway at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground level, describing the aircraft as bouncing and buffeting during the flight. Another witness reported that the weather at the time was overcast with occasional snow flakes.
Accident Sequence
Shortly after being observed over the runway, the airplane descended and impacted the terrain. The impact resulted in an explosion.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident inspection of the wreckage revealed a ridge of rime ice measuring between 1/2 and 3/4 inch thick along the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. Additionally, pieces of arc-shaped ice were found scattered along the wreckage path. Examination of the wreckage did not identify any preimpact failure or malfunction of the engine or airframe that would have prevented flight.
What happened in the 31 Dec 1997 Cessna 402B accident near Watertown, SD?
An airplane landed at Watertown, loaded and off-loaded cargo, then departed. Witnesses reported bouncing and buffeting at low altitude. The airplane descended, impacted terrain, and exploded. Post-accident inspection revealed rime ice on the left horizontal stabilizer.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 31 Dec 1997 involved a Cessna 402B, registration N5087Q, operated by Sioux Falls Aviation, at Watertown, SD.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
the pilot's failure to perform an aircraft preflight and to remove the ice which had accumulated on the airframe. A factor involved in the accident was the icing weather conditions which existed and the ice which accumulated on the airplane.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…