Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II, G-TWIG, 22 October 2004

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 10 December 2014

• Category: Commercial - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Field investigation
• Date of occurrence: 22 October 2004
• Aircraft type: Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II
• Location: 37 miles north-west of Inverness
• Registration: G-TWIG

Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II, G-TWIG

Summary:

The aircraft and its commander were concluding the fifth sector of the day when, shortly after starting a descent for Inverness, the aircraft’s rate of descent became unsteady and it started to turn left. The available evidence indicated that the aircraft struck the ground in a steep, left, spiral dive. The extreme fragmentation of the wreckage suggested a high impact speed, probably in the region of 350 kt. Major airframe and powerplant failures were discounted but otherwise, there was insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about the reasons for the sudden deviation from controlled flight and secondly, the absence of any evidence consistent with an attempt to recover from the dive. Two safety recommendations made recently to the EASA concerning flight recorders were re-iterated.

Download report:

Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II, G-TWIG 07-06.pdf (1,378.20 kb)

Published 10 December 2014