Disorientation Likely Caused Caravan To Go Down

Investigators with the National Transporation Safety Board have ruled a midair collision -- with a bird, or anything else -- was not the cause of a fatal October 2002 accident involving a Cessna 208B Caravan.

In the Probable Cause report on the accident issued Tuesday, NTSB investigators stated the aircraft went down after pilot Thomas J. Preziose became disoriented while flying at night in clouds, while also monitoring a FedEx DC-10 that was flying about a mile from his position. Such factors likely caused Preziose to lose his reference to the horizon.

As was reported in Aero-News, evidence found in the wreckage -- unexplained red streaks, and debris found in the Caravan's wing -- initially led some to suggest something had struck the Caravan.

Thirty-four red streaks were found in and around the forward portion of the Caravan's underslung cargo pod, with the majority of marks exhibiting a random, smearing or rubbing pattern, rather than a unidirectional and/or penetrating pattern consistant with an impact. The NTSB determined the paint marks were caused by pieces coming off the plane during the accident, or machinery used to pull the wreckage out of the water.

After exhaustive investigation, a piece of metal found embedded in the Caravan's wing was determined to have come from an electronic dimmer switch installed in the aircraft's cockpit, according to the NTSB.

All possibilities were considered in the accident, including the unlikely chance the Caravan (file photo of type, above) had somehow collided with the FedEx aircraft. No damage was found on the DC-10.

CEO Don Godwin of Mid-Atlantic Freight, the company that employed Preziose, told the Associated Press he had not read the final report and declined comment.

FMI: Read The Probable Cause Report