# NTSB CEN14LA074: Piper PA 28-181, N6780F, Rock Lake, ND, December 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 2013, 18:40 local (Dec 1, 2013, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Rock Lake, ND - Coordinates: 48.52, -99.120002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5200&lon=-99.1200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 88503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA074 ## Probable cause The noninstrument-rated pilot’s failure to obtain weather briefings immediately before and during the flight and his continued flight into icing conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s loss of performance and the subsequent controlled descent into trees and terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noninstrument-rated private pilot obtained a computerized weather briefing about 9 hours before he departed on a night cross-country flight. At that time, neither ice nor low visibility conditions were forecast along his intended flight route. The pilot did not obtain any additional weather information before takeoff or while en route. Weather conditions at the time of departure were marginal visual meteorological conditions, and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were forecast along the route of flight. The weather conditions were also conducive to the accumulation of structural icing. The pilot reported that, about 2 hours into the flight, the airplane entered IMC. He stated that he looked out at the wing and saw that "frost" had started to build up. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, so the pilot added power and focused on maintaining level flight at a safe airspeed as the airplane continued to descend until it impacted trees and the ground. The airplane came to rest on its left side in an ice-covered field and sustained substantial damage to both wings, all three landing gear, and the right horizontal stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 2013, about 1840 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N6780F, impacted terrain near Rock Lake, North Dakota. The non-instrument rated private pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 personal flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the cross country flight which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Falls International Airport (INL), International Falls, Minnesota, at 1635, and was destined for Bottineau Municipal Airport (D09), Bottineau, North Dakota. The pilot obtained a computerized weather briefing at 0914 on the morning of the accident, but did not obtain any additional weather information before he departed Minnesota. At the time he took off, the weather was marginal visual meteorological conditions and IMC conditions were forecasted along the route of flight. The conditions were also conducive to icing. The pilot said that as he approached Rolla, North Dakota (about 2 hours into the flight), he entered IMC conditions and the "ground just disappeared." It was dark, so he used a flashlight to look out on to the wing where he saw "frost" building up on the gas cap. The pilot said "things got bad" and he was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot added power, maintained a safe airspeed (between 76-80 knots), and kept the wings level as the airplane continued to descend. He said he never saw the trees or ground before the impact. The airplane came to rest on its left side in an ice-covered field. Both wings, all three landing gear, and the right horizontal stabilizer separated from the airplane. The distance from the point of initial impact to where the main fuselage came to rest was about 350 feet. Data from the pilot's handheld Garmin 195 GPS revealed that he departed INL at 1635. The airplane flew west on a true heading of 270 degrees before the data ended at 1840 about 19 miles east of Rolla Municipal Airport (06D), Rolla, North Dakota, at a ground speed of 136 miles per hour. At 1835 weather at Rolla Municipal Airport was reported as wind from 360 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 1/4-mile, freezing fog, overcast ceiling 200 feet, temperature -10 degrees C, dewpoint -10 degrees C, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.14 inches of mercury. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical was issued on July 1, 2013. The pilot reported a total of 250 flight hours, all of which were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6780F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6780F-2017-09-26), registration cancelled 2017-09-26, S/N 28-7790164 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-181 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790164 - Airframe hours: 7215 - Engines: Lycoming 0360 E286 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scheflo Steven M - Registered owner: Scheflo Steven M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KINL, Inter. Falls, MN - Destination: D09, Bottineau, ND - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 2, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: 06D, 19 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 20131130023879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131130023879A), Nov 30, 2013: Piper PA-28-181, Rolla, ND, Substantial damage. The non-instrument rated private pilot received a computer weather briefing indicating marginal VFR conditions at departing airport with IFR conditions enroute… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88503. 1.1 MB in all. - Record of Conversation, Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20inspector%27s%20statement-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Group Chairman_GPS_Factual Report (item 3, .PDF, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Group%20Chairman_GPS_Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather Information from Fltplan.com (item 4, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information%20from%20Fltplan.com-Redacted.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.