Beechcraft E18 crash, Mar 6, 1997 (2 killed), Mabie
Beechcraft E18 accident on March 6, 1997 near Mabie, West Virginia, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: The pilot's decision to depart into known...
- Date: March 6, 1997
- Aircraft: Beechcraft E18
- Location: Mabie, West Virginia, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot's decision to depart into known and forecast severe weather, with inadequate FAA oversight of the operator as a factor.
A Beechcraft E18S operated by Polaris Aviation departed Sanford on a cargo flight to Detroit despite forecasts of severe thunderstorms and icing along the route. The aircraft lost radar contact after about two hours at cruise and sent a Mayday that it was going down. Both people aboard were killed, and investigators cited the pilot's disregard of the weather briefing and weak FAA oversight of the operator.