Bangor Maine Challenger 650 Jet Crash (N10KJ): Icing, Deicing & NTSB Investigation

Max Trescott and Rob Mark talk about the Bangor, Maine Bombardier Challenger 650 crash (N10KJ, a business jet that crashed during takeoff in winter weather. In a winter takeoff crash, one of the first safety questions is always whether snow or ice contamination could have been present on critical surfaces at the beginning of the takeoff roll, even if the crew believed the aircraft was clean. That leads directly into a practical discussion of deicing and anti-icing strategy, including timing, holdover time awareness, and how quickly conditions can change between “we’re good” and “we’re not” when precipitation intensity increases.

From there, the episode pivots into several other recent NTSB cases that deliver a different kind of value: they show how “small” choices stack up until there’s no margin left—especially close to the ground. First is the American Aviation AA-1A (N9439L) near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Max and Rob talk through the pattern they see repeatedly: a pilot earns a certificate, buys an aircraft, then attempts a demanding cross-country trip that introduces hazards that basic training may not fully prepare a low-time pilot to manage—especially when geography changes from flatland flying to mountainous terrain. The discussion highlights fatigue, pacing, weather and terrain risk, and the hidden complexity of “just getting there” on a multi-stop trip.

Next is a training accident involving a Cirrus SR20 (N814) in Watertown, Wisconsin. Both occupants survive, but the sequence becomes a teaching case on bounced landings and go-around timing. They break down why the bounce itself isn’t the end of the story—it’s what happens after the bounce, when the airplane is low, slow, and draggy, and the crew has to execute a clean, immediate plan. This naturally tees up a broader theme of instructor decision-making: the balance between letting a student learn and intervening early enough that the airplane still has the performance and altitude needed to recover safely.

The episode then turns to a fatal instrument approach crash involving a Beech C23 (N76SB) near Midland, Virginia. The key lesson is brutally simple: descending below minimums without the required visual references is a trap that can close fast, especially when visibility is worse than it looks from a cockpit perspective. They also discuss the safety implications of sedating medication—in this case, diphenhydramine (Benadryl)—and why even “common” over-the-counter drugs can matter when the task is demanding, the weather is marginal, and the pilot is trying to salvage a landing at a familiar home airport.

From there, Max and Rob cover a fatal go-around loss of control involving a Mooney M20C (N1204X) in Plano, Texas. It becomes a clean example of how a go-around can be the highest-workload moment of the entire flight: configuration changes, pitch control, airspeed control, and bank angle management all have to happen correctly and quickly. When a climbing turn is added at low altitude, the margin gets razor-thin, and an exceedance of critical angle of attack can become unrecoverable.

Another case pushes the “margin” theme from a different angle: a Cessna 206 (N460DC) accident near Kneeland, California, on a runway with limited room and challenging terrain cues. The conversation focuses on unstabilized approaches and the hazards of pressing on when alignment, descent rate, or energy state isn’t right. Max and Rob talk about why the smartest decision often happens earlier than pilots want—calling the go-around before the airplane is committed, slow, and out of options.

They also revisit a fatal takeoff accident involving a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche (N8693Y) at Chicago DuPage Airport in West Chicago, Illinois. The emphasis here is not just engine failure theory, but what the video-like evidence in these cases often shows: pitch attitude, performance, and controllability immediately after liftoff. It’s a reminder that takeoff is a phase where you don’t get extra time to diagnose; you need clear priorities and immediate aircraft control.

Finally, the episode closes with a multi-engine training tragedy: a Beechcraft 95 Travel Air (N369BB) in Alabama. Max and Rob discuss slow flight, stall/spin risk, and why light twins add complexity—especially because spin recovery is not something most are certified to do. They also explore the human side: recency of training, cockpit workload, and how quickly a routine practice flight can turn into an unrecoverable situation if control is lost at the wrong moment.