On 6 Feb 2020, a Cessna 208 B operated by Redding Aero Enterprises Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Eureka, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's delayed response to initiate a go-around during a night visual approach over water after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of forward visibility and subsequent impact with the water. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a night visual approach, an airline transport pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions over water, leading to a nose wheel water contact and the airplane nosing over inverted.
Incident Overview
A cross-country night flight ended with the airplane coming to rest inverted in ocean water. The airline transport pilot was conducting a visual approach to the airport. While descending over water on the left base leg, approximately 100 feet above the surface, the flight entered instrument meteorological conditions with no forward visibility.
Pilot Actions
The pilot looked outside his left window to gauge height and saw "black waves of water approaching extremely rapidly." He attempted to initiate a climb by pulling back on the yoke, but the nose wheel contacted the water. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted in the ocean.
Aircraft Status
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.