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January 13, 1982 · Piper PA-31-350 · N36PB

Spokane, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 13, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Spokane, WA
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-350
Tail Number
N36PB
Operator
Richard Engstrom
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA82DA017

After arriving in the Spokane area, a full ILS was commenced. It was terminated about 200 ft above the decision height with a missed approach. The aircraft was vectored for a second ILS. During the last 400 ft of this approach, about 3/4 to one inch of mixed rime and clear ice was picked up. The copilot visually identified the approach lights and the ILS was continued to landing. During the flare, the left wing dropped and struck the runway and was substantially damaged. Ice had formed on the leading edges of the wings in about a two inch flat plane, perpendicular to the chord line. At the time of the mishap, fog dispersal operations were in effect. The procedure involved the use of aircraft to disseminate dry ice into the fog to provide condensation nuclei. This procedure increases the fog droplet size to provide subsequent dissipation. It also reduces the temperature of the surrounding air, and in certain conditions, can attribute to airframe icing. Prevailing temperature was 33 deg.

Full Narrative

AFTER ARRIVING IN THE SPOKANE AREA, A FULL ILS WAS COMMENCED. IT WAS TERMINATED ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE DECISION HEIGHT WITH A MISSED APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VECTORED FOR A SECOND ILS. DURING THE LAST 400 FT OF THIS APPROACH, ABOUT 3/4 TO ONE INCH OF MIXED RIME AND CLEAR ICE WAS PICKED UP. THE COPILOT VISUALLY IDENTIFIED THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND THE ILS WAS CONTINUED TO LANDING. DURING THE FLARE, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ICE HAD FORMED ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS IN ABOUT A TWO INCH FLAT PLANE, PERPENDICULAR TO THE CHORD LINE. AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP, FOG DISPERSAL OPERATIONS WERE IN EFFECT. THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED THE USE OF AIRCRAFT TO DISSEMINATE DRY ICE INTO THE FOG TO PROVIDE CONDENSATION NUCLEI. THIS PROCEDURE INCREASES THE FOG DROPLET SIZE TO PROVIDE SUBSEQUENT DISSIPATION. IT ALSO REDUCES THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SURROUNDING AIR, AND IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CAN ATTRIBUTE TO AIRFRAME ICING. PREVAILING TEMPERATURE WAS 33 DEG.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 PST
Nearest AirportGeiger Field (0nm N)
Runway21
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31-350
Tail NumberN36PB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRichard Engstrom
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-J2BD · Reciprocating · 350
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:00

Appendix: Source Data