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?Images from FAA, Google Earth and Turbine Traveler on X.)AOPA Air Safety Institute stated on Tuesday that icing was likely a factor in the crash of a Bombardier Challenger 650 (N10KJ) that crashed in Maine on Sunday.
The aircraft was departing the Bangor International Airport (BGR) when it crashed only 1,760 meters from the runway. While there were initially mixed reports on the number and status of the occupants, the FAA has now confirmed that six people were on the manifest and all six died.
The institute states that around the time of take-off, there was light snow with three-quarters of a mile visibility, an overcast ceiling of 1,200 feet and a temperature of 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The Challenger crew configured the aircraft for takeoff before deicing and had only a few minutes to get off the ground before the protective anti-ice fluid was expected to fail. The fluid had been applied at 7:17 p.m.
Before the Challenger took off, an Allegiant flight on the same runway requested time to perform a tactile check on the aircraft and reported that they would need to return to the ramp due to failed deicing fluid and poor visibility. The Allegiant pilot confirmed on the ground control frequency that the powdery snow then falling had begun to stick to the aircraft.
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The Challenger reported ready to taxi at 7:35 p.m., cleared for takeoff at 7:42 p.m. and crashed at 7:45 p.m. The time interval between the application of the fluid and take-off is expected to be longer than the anti-ice fluid can effectively prevent wing contamination in the weather. The acceptable interval between the application of deicing and anti-ice fluids and flight is no more than nine minutes of holdover because of the weather conditions, according to the FAA Holdover Time Guidelines.
The audio recording and the ADS-B data show the Challenger crew did not take as much time conducting pretakeoff checks as the Allegiant crew had. The Allegiant crew's inspections took seven minutes at the hold-short line and the Challenger's took 30 seconds. It is unclear if the Challenger crew had time to conduct a visual inspection for wing contamination from the cabin.