Ice likely not the cause of skydivers’ crash

A plane crash in October 2007 that killed nine Snohomish-based skydivers and the pilot likely was not caused by ice on the wings, according to a federal report released this week.

Several of those who died in the accident in Washington’s Cascades near White Pass were from Snohomish County and regularly jumped at Skydive Snohomish, located at Harvey Field.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators compared simulator data with conditions present at the time of the crash. They concluded that if ice had built up on the wings, the aircraft likely would have stalled out much earlier.

Radar data showed that the Cessna 208B maintained a mostly steady altitude until only about two minutes before the crash. That’s when it plummeted more than 10,000 feet into the side of a mountain.

Icing conditions were present at the time, according to weather reports, leading to speculation that ice on the wings had contributed to the crash.

Federal investigators still have not determined the cause of the crash. A final report is not expected for several more months, according to Terry Williams, a spokesman for the safety board in Washington, D.C.

The pilot and the skydivers were returning from a weekend skydiving event in Idaho, on the way to Shelton, when the crash occurred.

Their deaths have resulted in several lawsuits against Cessna Aircraft Co. and Good­rich Corp., alleging that equipment designed to keep the Cessna’s wings free of ice in freezing and wet flying conditions failed, causing the plane to crash.

Dean Brett of Bellingham, the attorney representing most of the families, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Brett has said his goal is to have the Cessna 208B decertified for flying in icy conditions.

Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver declined comment on the report.

The report also says the pilot, Phil Kibler, 46, of Snohomish, spent more than an hour flying at between 12,400 feet and 15,000 feet on the ill-fated trip. The report quotes a federal aviation regulation that says flight crew members in a depressurized cabin must use oxygen when flying for more than 30 minutes between 12,500 and 14,000 feet. Above 14,000 feet, supplemental oxygen is supposed to be used at all times.

An aviation medicine textbook quoted in the report says a person’s ability to perform skilled tasks is impaired at between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, “an effect of which the subject is frequently unaware.”

An empty oxygen bottle and a mask stowed in its container were found in the wreckage.

The crash was the deadliest in the United States in 2007. Skydivers killed were Bryan Jones, 34, of Redmond; Cecil Elsner, 20, of Lake Stevens; Landon Atkin, 20, of Snohomish; Andrew Smith, 20, of Lake Stevens; Jeff Ross, 28, of Snohomish; Hollie Rasberry, 24, of Bellingham; Michelle Barker, 22, of Kirkland; Casey Craig, 30, of Bothell; and Ralph Abdo, 27, of Issaquah.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439, sheets@heraldnet.com.