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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 16, 1987 · Piper PA-32-300 · N56285

Mason City, IA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 16, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Mason City, IA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N56285
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC87LA062

The pilot stated that he had obtained a full weather briefing and an IFR clearance from Grand Marais, Minnesota to Des Moines, Iowa prior to departure; and that the flight was uneventful, except for stronger than forecasted headwinds aloft. Enroute, the pilot further stated, he received two in-flight weather advisories but decided to continue on to DSM. According to the National Weather Service, forecasted--and known--icing conditions existed throughout the route of flight. Several FAA weather briefing personnel stated that the pilot was warned of icing conditions on all of his contacts with FSS. Only when the aircraft began picking up rime ice did the pilot request vectors to a nearby airport for a precautionary landing. The aircraft landed nose first as the pilot reduced power over the runway threshold--the nose gear collapsed upon impact, damaging the propeller and engine mounts. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed the presence of ice along the leading edge of the wings.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING AND AN IFR CLEARANCE FROM GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA TO DES MOINES, IOWA PRIOR TO DEPARTURE; AND THAT THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT FOR STRONGER THAN FORECASTED HEADWINDS ALOFT. ENROUTE, THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, HE RECEIVED TWO IN-FLIGHT WX ADVISORIES BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO DSM. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, FORECASTED--AND KNOWN--ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. SEVERAL FAA WEATHER BRIEFING PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE PILOT WAS WARNED OF ICING CONDITIONS ON ALL OF HIS CONTACTS WITH FSS. ONLY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PICKING UP RIME ICE DID THE PILOT REQUEST VECTORS TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED NOSE FIRST AS THE PILOT REDUCED POWER OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD--THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED UPON IMPACT, DAMAGING THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE MOUNTS. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF ICE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WINGS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:20 CST
Nearest AirportMason City Muni. (0nm N)
Runway12
Runway Length5502 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN56285
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-KIA5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind90° @ 17 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 2200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 27 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:24
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data