"Ice Chunk" cracks & obscures PC-12 windshield at 15,000 feet
SeaPort Airlines flight from PDX to SEA (Pilatus PC-12 with six passengers) Friday evening, Jan 8, reported the captains windshield cracked with no forward visibility for left hand seat. AC was was at 15,000 feet on descent to SEA when incident occurred. Pilot in RH seat made a non-emergency landing at SeaTac.
Video shows entire left side of windscreen covered with cracks.
Multiple press reports (there is an active and knowledgeable aviation press corps in Seattle) is reporting damage was caused by an "ice chunk" that struck windscreen.
Where did such an "ice chunk" come from? There was no reported convection in the area.
If it came off the nose of the AC - how did it have enough relative velocity to damage the windscreen?
Are "ice chunks" into the windscreen a common problem?
Video and passenger interviews at KOMO TV, KIRO TV, KING TV
Last edited by TacomaSailor; 10th Jan 2010 at 07:20.
Reason: got my rights and lefts mixed up