NTSB report: Nome-bound plane was significantly overloaded when it crashed

The Feb. 6 plane crash near Nome that claimed the lives of all 10 people aboard was overloaded, the National Transportation Safety Board has revealed.

Preliminary reports from the NTSB suggest that the plane was overloaded with cargo and baggage by more than 1,000 pounds at takeoff, a critical factor that may have contributed to the crash. Investigators are examining whether the excess weight affected the aircraft’s performance, particularly in light of reported icing conditions.

The aircraft departed Unalakleet at 2:37 pm AST under an instrument flight rules clearance, cruising at 8,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot, an experienced aviator with 2,500 total flight hours — 1,060 of which were in the Cessna 208B — was in communication with Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center throughout the flight.

As the flight neared Nome, controllers temporarily closed the airport’s runway for deicing, instructing the pilot to slow the aircraft. The pilot complied, reducing speed to approximately 110–120 knots and descending to 6,000 feet. At 3:19 pm, the autopilot disengaged, and the aircraft’s airspeed plummeted to 99 knots, then 70 knots. The aircraft continued its descent, reaching just 1,325 feet at 3:20:09 pm. The last satellite reading indicated an altitude of only 200 feet before impact moments later.

Investigators highlight in the report that the aircraft exceeded its maximum takeoff weight by an estimated 1,058 pounds due to cargo and baggage. Overloading can significantly impact an aircraft’s ability to climb, maintain altitude, and handle adverse weather conditions.

Read the report at this link.

Weather reports at the time indicated light snow and potential icing between 2,000 and 8,000 feet. While the plane was equipped with a TKS ice protection system, it remains unclear whether it was fully operational at the time of impact. Wreckage analysis revealed minor ice accumulation, but the exact role of icing in the crash is still under review.

Search teams discovered the wreckage scattered across a floating icepack in Norton Sound. The aircraft sustained significant impact damage but showed no signs of in-flight structural failure. Authorities continue to analyze avionics data, pilot actions, and external factors to determine the primary cause of the crash.