# NTSB ATL87LA073: Piper PA-32RT-300, N31590, Nashville, TN, February 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1987, 19:15 local (Feb 19, 1987, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.110328, -86.659774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1103&lon=-86.6598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7379
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7379/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA073

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - stabilizer - ice (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object - approach light/navaid
  - stall/mush (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CONDUCTED AN ILS APPCH BEHIND MIXED JET AND TURBOPROP TRAFFIC; THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED AN 'EXTREME DOWNDRAFT' WHILE ON APPCH AND THE ACFT VERTICAL SPEED WENT FROM ABOUT 500 FPM TO ABOUT 1200 FPM. HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY ADDING FULL POWER, INCREASING PITCH, AND REDUCING THE FLAP SETTING FROM 25 DEGREES TO 10, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY ARREST THE SINK RATE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO APPCH LIGHTS AND A LOCALIZER PLATFORM ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY. A BEECH 99 LANDING ABOUT 2 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE ACFT REPORTED NO PROBLEM ON THE APPCH. THE FREEZING LEVEL AT NASHVILLE WAS REPORTED TO 900 FT MSL AT 1750 CST. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF THE 30 MINUTE FLT HAD BEEN IN THE CLOUDS. AN AIR CARRIER FLT THAT LANDED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AHEAD REPORTED EXPERIENCING 'LOTS OF RIME ICE'. THE PA-32RT-300 POH STATES THAT THE FLAPS SHOULD BE SLOWLY RETRACTED ONLY WHEN A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE IS ESTABLISHED WHEN INITIATING A GO-AROUND FROM A LDG APPCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31590](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31590-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 32R7885106 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7885106
- Airframe hours: 2041
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Transportation America Corp.
- Registered owner: Charles Robert Laudermilk
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 1987, 15 hours before
- Departed: M54, LEBANON, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BNA, Nashville Metropolitan, runway 2L, 7,702 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,529 total, 2,402 in this make and model, 6,323 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870218002899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870218002899A), Feb 18, 1987: Piper PA32RT300, Nashville, TN, Destroyed. The aircraft struck approach lights on final. Pilot reported downdraft. Suspect airframe icing. Improper go around

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.

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