AT73, en-route, Roselawn IN USA, 1994

Summary
On 31 October 1994, an ATR 72 operated by Simmons Airlines, crashed near Roselawn, Indiana, USA, following loss of control due to airframe icing.

Event Details
When	October 1994
Actual or Potential Event Type	Loss of Control, Weather
Day/Night	Not Recorded
Flight Conditions	Not Recorded

Flight Details
Aircraft	ATR ATR-72-201
Operator	Simmons Airlines
Domicile	United States
Type of Flight

Outcome
Damage or injury	No
Aircraft damage	None"None" is not in the list (Minor, Major, Hull loss) of allowed values for the "Aircraft damage" property.
Injuries	None"None" is not in the list (Few occupants, Many occupants, Most or all occupants) of allowed values for the "Injuries" property.
Fatalities	None"None" is not in the list (Few occupants, Many occupants, Most or all occupants) of allowed values for the "Fatalities" property. ()

Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)

Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)

Investigation Type
Type

Loss of Control - Airframe Icing

Description

On 31 October 1994, an ATR 72 operated by Simmons Airlines, crashed near Roselawn, Indiana, USA, following loss of control due to airframe icing.

Synopsis

This is an extract from the Executive Summary of the official report into the accident published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (USA)

“On October 31, 1994, at 1559 Central Standard Time, an Avions de Transport Regional, model 72-212 (ATR 72), registration number N401AM, leased to and operated by Simmons Airlines, Incorporated, and doing business as American Eagle flight 4184, crashed during a rapid descent after an uncommanded roll excursion. The airplane was in a holding pattern and was descending to a newly assigned altitude of 8,000 feet when the initial roll excursion occurred. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces; and the captain, first officer, 2 flight attendants and 64 passengers received fatal injuries. “

The probable cause of the accident was given as:

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of control, attributed to a sudden and unexpected aileron hinge moment reversal, that occurred after a ridge of ice accreted beyond the deice boots while the airplane was in a holding pattern during which it intermittently encountered supercooled cloud and drizzle/rain drops, the size and water content of which exceeded those described in the icing certification envelope. The airplane was susceptible to this loss of control, and the crew was unable to recover.”

Related Articles

• In-Flight Icing
• Clear Ice
• Loss of Control
• Cumulonimbus (Cb)
• Weather

Further Reading

• NTSB Accident Report AAR-96-01, In-flight Icing Encounter and Loss of Control Simmons Airlines, d.b.a. American Eagle Flight 4184 Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) Model 72-212, N401AM, Roselawn, Indiana October 31, 1994;
• Volume II of the NTSB Accident Report AAR-96-01, Volume II contains the comments of the Bureau Enquetes-Accidents (BEA, France) on the Safety Board’s draft of the accident report. The comments are provided in accordance with ICAO Annex 13;
• The NTSB Response to the Petition for Reconsideration.