# NTSB CEN19CA062: Piper PA 18, N3298Z, Iron Mountain, MI, January 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 19, 2019, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Iron Mountain, MI - Coordinates: 45.830001, -87.980003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8300&lon=-87.9800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98880/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98880 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of situational awareness and visual horizon in overcast sky conditions, which led to an unrecognized descent during a low-level maneuver and subsequent impact with snow-covered terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis On January 19, 2019, about 1315 central standard time, a Piper PA-28 airplane, N3298Z, impacted terrain near Iron Mountain, Michigan. The airline transport-rated pilot sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated at Ford Airport, Iron Mountain, Michigan. The pilot reported that he had conducted an uneventful sight-seeing flight and intended to return to the departure airport. He initiated a left turn about 800 ft above a lake and became distracted while focusing on a distant point across the frozen and snow-covered lake. The pilot added that he lost reference to the horizon while continuing in a descending left turn until ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The departure airport's automated surface observation system, located 6 miles west of the accident site, reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, winds were from 020º at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, ceiling overcast at 3,500 ft, temperature -11ºC, dew point -18ºC, and altimeter setting of 30.19 inches of mercury. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 2019, about 1315 central standard time, a Piper PA-28 airplane, N3298Z, owned by a private individual impacted a frozen lake near Iron Mountain, Michigan. The airline transport rated pilot received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated at Ford Airport (IMT), Iron Mountain, Michigan. According to the pilot's statement, he had an uneventful sight-seeing flight and intended to return to IMT. He initiated a left-hand turn about 800ft above ground level, over Fumee Lake, Michigan, and became distracted while focusing on a distant point across the frozen and snow covered lake. The pilot reported he lost reference to the horizon while continuing in a descending left turn and impacted the ground with the left wing, main gear and right wing. The pilot indicated on his accident report that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. At 1254, the IMT automated surface observation system, located 6 miles west of the accident site, reported the following weather conditions: winds 020º at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, ceiling overcast 3,500 ft, temperature -11ºC, dew point -18ºC, and altimeter 30.19 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3298Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3298Z-2020-08-02), registration cancelled 2020-08-02, S/N 18-7240, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 18 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7240 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3995.64 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2018 - Departed: IMT, Iron Mountain Kingsford, MI - Destination: IMT, Iron Mountain Kingsford, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,196 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 14,696 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KIMT, 6 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 20190119000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190119000289A), Jan 19, 2019: Piper PA-18, Iron Moutain, MI, Substantial damage. On January 19, 2019 at 13:15 central standard time (CST), a Piper PA-18 aircraft, N3298Z, registered to an individual and operated by an airline pilot for a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98880. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 993 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Site Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Photographs-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.