Flying too slow while overloaded in icy conditions caused last year's deadly commercial plane crash in Alaska

A NTSB report says an overloaded Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan operated by Bering Air crashed last year in western Alaska because the pilot likely failed to monitor airspeed while flying into severe icing. The aircraft, Bering Air flight 445, disappeared on Feb. 6, 2025 after departing Unalakleet for Nome. The wreckage was found about 34 miles southeast of Nome on a floating ice pack. The investigation found the plane’s ice protection systems worked and ice accumulation didn’t directly cause the crash, but the aircraft was about 1,000 pounds overweight for icing conditions. As the plane slowed, the autopilot disengaged and the pilot didn’t increase speed, apparently losing situational awareness.