Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

CESSNA 208, DILLINGHAM, ALASKA, OCT. 10, 2001–At about 9:26 a.m. Alaska daylight time, Peninsula Airways (dba Pen- Air) Flight 350, Cessna Caravan N9530F, crashed shortly after takeoff from Dillingham Airport (DLG). The pilot and nine passengers were killed and the airplane was destroyed. One passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage but died the next day. The impact site was located about 0.7 nm northeast of the departure end of Runway 01 at DLG. There was no post-crash fire. Flight 350 was destined for King Salmon, Alaska (AKN), on a scheduled Part 135 flight. VMC prevailed at the time of the accident.
The Safety Board determined the probable cause of the accident to be an in-flight loss of control resulting from upper-surface ice contamination, which the PIC failed to detect during his preflight inspection of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a preflight inspection requirement for Caravan pilots to examine at close range the upper surface of the wing for ice contamination when ground icing conditions exist.
N9530F had been parked outside the night before the accident and was subjected to rain, snow and temperatures that dropped below 32 degrees F. Other pilots whose airplanes were also parked outside overnight stated that between a quarter and a half inch of snow and frost covered a layer of ice on their airplanes that morning. Subsequently, ramp personnel de-iced the accident airplane before the flight with a heated mixture of glycol and water.
The PenAir ramp supervisor who conducted the de-icing stated that he believed the upper surface of the wing was clear of ice but that he did not physically touch the wing to check for the presence of ice. 
Investigators were unable to determine whether the accident pilot checked the wing and tail surfaces for contamination after de-icing, but the Caravan’s high-wing configuration would have hindered the pilot’s ability to see residual clear ice. Company records indicate that the certified commercial pilot completed his initial Caravan flight training two months before the accident and had accumulated a total of 74 hours in the turboprop single.
A witness observed that the airplane’s flight appeared to be normal until it suddenly pitched up, rolled 90 degrees to the left and yawed to the left. The airplane then descended nose down until it disappeared from view. Data from the engine monitoring system revealed that the maximum altitude obtained during the accident flight was about 651 feet msl; Dillingham Airport is 86 feet msl. The airplane crashed in a level attitude. 
Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact failures in the structure, flight control systems or instruments. Examination of the engine and propeller revealed no pre-impact failures and confirmed that the engine was running when the airplane hit the ground.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Final Report: Wing ice cited in Caravan crash

CESSNA 208, DILLINGHAM, ALASKA, OCT.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AmyWilder

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Hawker crew did not respond to controller’s orders

NTSB Prelim Points To Distraction in Bizjet Collision

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

 Failure to heed advisories, pilot-induced oscillations led to fatality

NTSB: Crew Errors Led to Fatal Injury Onboard Challenger

David Jack Kenny

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Preliminary and final accident reports, December 2024

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: December 2024

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Accidents

NTSB Prelim Points To Distraction in Bizjet Collision

Hawker crew did not respond to controller’s orders

NTSB: Crew Errors Led to Fatal Injury Onboard Challenger

Failure to heed advisories, pilot-induced oscillations led to fatality

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: December 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, December 2024

Swiftair 737 Freighter Crashes On Approach to Vilnius

Spanish charter carrier was operating flight for express package group DHL

Bombardier Safety Standdown: Surviving the Fire

Preparation and training resulted in a survivable accident

Five Killed in HondaJet Rejected Takeoff Crash at KFFZ

Aircraft caught fire and burned after hitting a vehicle

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: November 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, November 2024

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN