Accident Details
At 0916 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious aircraft, serial number 20800310, departed from runway 19 at Abbotsford Airport, British Columbia, on the initial leg of a private flight to the Bahamas. The aircraft carried one pilot and five passengers. About one minute after takeoff, while climbing through approximately 400 feet above ground level, the pilot retracted the flaps from 10 to zero degrees. The aircraft then became uncontrollable, banking left, descending rapidly, and impacting a field approximately half a mile south of the runway threshold. The impact attitude was a left bank with a near-level pitch. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot sustained serious injuries, two passengers also suffered serious injuries, and three passengers received minor injuries. Daylight visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and there was no post-crash fire.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to take off with frost adhering to the aircraft's lifting surfaces, which increased drag and diminished the wings' lift-generating capability. Additionally, the aircraft was approximately 510 pounds above its maximum takeoff weight at departure, which adversely affected performance. When the flaps were retracted from 10 to zero degrees, the wing's lift production decreased further, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Other Findings
The investigation noted that appropriate entries were not recorded in the aircraft's journey and maintenance logs, and the weight and balance documentation was not updated. The floats were found to have absorbed much of the impact energy, likely enhancing the survivability of the accident.