NTSB Finds Tamarack winglets Not to Blame in 2018 Indiana fatal accident

The National Transportation Safety Board has published a revised Aviation Investigation Final Report for a tragic aircraft accident that occurred in Indiana in 2018. In in a very unusual turn of events, this new report reverses a previous probable cause.  “…the available evidence for this accident does not sufficiently show that the ATLAS was the cause of the in-flight upset from which the pilot was unable to recover,” the NTSB stated in their formal response to the Petition, which can be downloaded here. The response also states that “…the NTSB agrees with the petitioner that the evidence is also insufficient to conclude that (1) the left actuator was in an extended position at the time of initial impact and (2) the ATLAS caused the left rolling moment; the NTSB has revised the report accordingly.”

Jacob Klinginsmith, Tamarack President, commented: “Tamarack is very pleased that the NTSB has decided to grant our Petition for Reconsideration concerning this 2018 accident and taken steps to correct multiple technical errors in the original investigation. This reversal shows the NTSB has the courage, professionalism, and proper process to make these corrections, and for that we applaud the NTSB. Our growing fleet of nearly 200 CitationJet customers see the safety, performance and fuel saving sustainability benefits of our technology on every flight. Our customers know that the Active Winglet upgrade is safe, reliable, and consistently brings a lot of value to Cessna CitationJets and other upgraded aircraft.”

The revised Final Report is a response to the January 2022 Petition for Reconsideration submitted by Tamarack which cited multiple factual errors in the NTSB Final Report published in late 2021. The result of that report was a conclusion that could not be supported by the facts of that accident. Tamarack applauds the NTSB for studying the objective and verifiable facts and data available and using correct information to revise the probable cause.  

Tamarack Aerospace Group extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the 2018 mishap and hopes the new conclusions can bring closure to this prolonged investigation. In early 2023 Tamarack Aerospace Group reached a confidential resolution of all claims related to this mishap. Tamarack remains dedicated to enhancing aviation safety. Tamarack expects other aviation industry leaders will have a response to this significant NTSB reversal and will provide updates about the implications of this news soon.