Incident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft conducting an artificial rainfall operation crashed in a residential area after losing control and entering a spin. The aircraft had departed Ganzhou Airport at 1440 local time for a cloud seeding mission over the Jiangxi Region. While flying in clouds, it entered an uncontrolled descent, developed a spin, and ultimately crashed. Rescue efforts found that all five occupants were killed and one person on the ground sustained slight injuries.
Official Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by loss of control due to icing conditions. The aircraft had been flying in icy conditions for a prolonged period during the cloud seeding operation. Significant ice accumulation on the wings and propellers compromised aerodynamic performance. The investigation noted that the aircraft was unable to effectively manage the icing risk, leading to a loss of speed, entry into a spin, and subsequent impact with the ground, followed by a fire.
Additional Details
The accident was classified as a major general aviation accident of aircraft crew origin based on the casualties and damage. The investigation also found that the aircraft had undergone modifications that rendered certain relevant data unavailable. Furthermore, the crew did not properly handle the spin, which contributed to the loss of control.
Summary
The crash resulted from prolonged exposure to icing conditions during an artificial rainfall operation, leading to ice buildup on critical surfaces and loss of control. The crew's response to the spin was inadequate, and modifications to the aircraft limited available data for analysis.