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Accidents · NTSB CEN15LA021 · Final report

Raytheon 58 accident near Dixon, Illinois, October 4, 2014

On October 4, 2014 at about 3:28 pm local time, a Raytheon 58, registered N345PG, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dixon, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilots’ improper decision to continue flight in icing conditions after the deicing boots could not shed accumulated ice, which resulted in a temporary loss of airplane control.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 4, 2014 · about 3:28 pm local time
Place
Dixon, Illinois · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Raytheon 58 NO SERIES
Registration
N345PG · registry record · serial TH2016
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The two pilots, one of whom was a flight instructor, were conducting a cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that, during the climb to 8,000 ft mean seal level (msl), light ice accumulated on the wings' leading edges. Activation of the deicing boots eliminated about 30 to 40 percent of the ice. The airplane then climbed to and leveled off at 10,000 ft msl, at which point, the engine speed "fluttered" and the airplane then rolled "quickly to the left" and entered a descending spin. The flight instructor applied control inputs, and the spin was arrested about 2,500 ft msl. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. Postaccident examination and testing of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing and elevator control surface, which was consistent with forces sustained from excessive accelerations; radar data showed that the airplane descended 7,500 ft in about 30 seconds. A weather briefing for the flight showed that an airmen's meteorological information for moderate icing conditions was in effect and that light showers, rain, and snow were forecast throughout the area about the time of the accident. The deicing boots were unable to shed the accumulated ice, which adversely affected the airplane's performance and resulted in the temporary loss of airplane control. The pilot reported that he did not fly in such weather conditions unless accompanied by an experienced pilot.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Structural icing during enroute (climb to cruise)
  2. Inflight upset during enroute (cruise) defining event
  3. Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise)
  4. Attempted remediation/recovery during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to structural icing › Effect on equipment
  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 750 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
  • Last flight review: June 19, 2013
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Flight instructor

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Medical certificate: Unknown
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Departed from: PWK Wheeling IL at 4:00 pm
  • Destination: CMI Savoy IL
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 17 knots, gusting 22
  • Visibility: 5 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; clear
  • Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
  • Observation at 3:15 pm from SQI, 15 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.