# NTSB CEN10LA529: Piper Aerostar 601P, N601PP, Baraboo, WI, August 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 2010, 09:31 local (14:31 UTC) - Place: Baraboo, WI - Coordinates: 43.460758, -89.740562 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4608&lon=-89.7406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA529 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77245/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77245 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA529 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention during an approach for landing that resulted in an altitude loss and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Workload management: task allocation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was on approach to the destination airport when the pilot noticed a differential reading between the left and right engine cylinder/exhaust temperatures. While preparing to land, he moved his seat back to be able to better view the gauges located on the right side of the instrument panel. While the pilot was recording the gauge indications on paper, the airplane's airspeed decreased, the sink rate increased, and the airplane descended and impacted trees and a corn field. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2010, at 0931 central daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 601P, N601PP, received substantial damage on impact with terrain near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Reedsburg Municipal Airport (C35), Reedsburg, Wisconsin, about 0926 and was en route to Baraboo Wisconsin Dells Airport (DLL), Baraboo, Wisconsin. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane had the left cylinder temperature probes replaced at C35. The pilot was repositioning the airplane to DLL. While approaching DLL, the pilot noticed a differential reading between the left and right engine cylinder/exhaust temperatures. While preparing to land, the pilot moved his seat back so as to get a better view of the engine temperature gauges located on the right side of the panel. While he was recording the gauge indications on paper, the airspeed decreased, the sink rate increased, and the airplane impacted trees and a corn field about 1/2 mile north of the approach end of runway 19. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601PP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601PP-2016-07-29), registration cancelled 2016-07-29, S/N 61P07468063367, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER Aerostar 601P - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P07468063367 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: C35, Reedsburg, WI - Destination: DLL, Baraboo, WI - Airport: DLL, Baraboo Wisconsin Dells Airpor ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 24,285 total, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 30 nm away ## 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 20100818043959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100818043959A), Aug 18, 2010: Piper AEROSTAR 60, Baraboo, WI, Substantial damage. The aircraft was being operated on a VFR repositioning flight from reedsburg, WI (C35) to Baraboo, WI (dll) after the left engine cylinder head temperature… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77245. 38 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Letter to Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Letter%20to%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.