# Accident 20041228033229A: Piper PA23250, Ironwood, MI, December 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 28, 2004, 12:00 local time
- Place: Ironwood, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5214° N, 90.1283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5214&lon=-90.1283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5398M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5398M-2006-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23250
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Pilot flight hours: 943 total, 306 in this make and model, 118 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI05FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041228033229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) 12/28/04: AIRCRAFT ENROUTE FROM MENOMINEE-MARINETTE TWIN COUNTY (MNM) TO IRONWOOD (IWD) REPORTEDLY RADIOED ATC WITH ENGINE & HYD SYSTEM DIFFICULTIES. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND WITHIN ONE HALF MILE OF IWD AIRPORT RESULTING IN 5 FATALITIES, (1 PIC AND 4 PAX). AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. 12/29-12/30/04: ON SCENE INVESTIGATION-PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS SHOW AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND AT ALMOST 90 DEGREE ANGLE (STRAIGHT IN) AT A HI RATE OF SPEED. NTSB, PIPER, & LYCOMING PERSONNEL ON SCENE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE SHOWED FLIGHT CONTROL(S) HAD NO APPARENT CONTINUITY ANOMALIES AND ENGINE(S) CONTROL HAD NO APPARENT CONTINUITY ANOMALIES. HYDRAULIC (HYD) FAILURE APPEARS TO BE RESULT OF LEFT ENGINE FAILURE AS HYD PUMP IS MOUNTED ON LEFT ENGINE, SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF HYD PUMP REVEALED NO ANOMALIES. MAIN LANDING GEAR WERE FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION. LEFT PROPELLER WAS NOT IN THE FEATHERED POSITION AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ROTATING AT IMPACT. RIGHT PROPELLER & ENGINE WERE ROTATING AT IMPACT. LEFT ENGINE #4 CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED/FULLY SEPARATED FROM CYLINDER BODY BY APPX 1.5 INCHES. CONTINUITY OF ACCY GEARCASE CHECK GOOD, COMPRESSION & SPARK CHECKS GOOD, FUEL INJECTORS AND MANIFOLD APPEAR NORMAL. RIGHT ENGINE HAD NO APPARENT DAMAGE AND CONTINUITY OF ACCY GEARCASE CHECK GOOD, COMPRESSION & SPARK CHECKS GOOD, FUEL INJECTORS AND MANIFOLD APPEAR NORMAL. ICE ACCUMULATION (3/8"-1/2") WAS NOTED ON SOME SURFACES, BUT WIND LEADING EDGE BOOTS APPEARED SLIGHTLY INFLATED AND HAD NO ICE BUILD-UP INDICATING NORMAL OPERATION AT IMPACT. HORIZONTAL STAB BOOTS CLEAN ALSO. 1/20/2004: STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE LOGBOOKS. NOT FOUND IN WRECKAGE AND SUSPECT AT PILOT'S RESIDENCE. HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY FAMILY MEMBERS, COURTS HAVE SECURED HOUSE AT THIS TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI05FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA049), Dec 28, 2004: Piper PA-23-250 (N5398M), Ironwood, MI, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: Fatigue fracture of an engine cylinder resulting in a loss of power on the left engine. Additional causes were the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed (Vmc), the resulting loss of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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