# NTSB CHI04FA044: Piper PA-32-260, N3733W, Brooklyn, IA, December 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2003, 18:30 local (Dec 18, 2003, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Brooklyn, IA - Coordinates: 41.706665, -92.461669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7067&lon=-92.4617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: New Piper Aircraft Company, Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 58517 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04FA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58517/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04FA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance resulting in in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, his lack of recent night flying experience, the dark night, and the low ceilings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a cornfield during cruise flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR), and no flight plan was filed. There was no record of the pilot contacting air traffic control facilities or Flight Service Stations while en route. There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot was a private pilot but he was not instrument qualified. The pilot's logbook indicated that he flew 0.5 hours of night time 30 days prior to the accident, and that he recorded 3 landings to a full stop. The pilot's previous night flight, which was 0.6 hours in length, was logged nine months prior to the accident. The observed weather about 26 nautical miles west of the accident site, was: Winds 260 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 2 statute miles, light snow, ceiling 700 feet overcast, temperature 1 degree C, dew point 0 degree C, altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 17, 2003, approximately 1830 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3733W, was destroyed when it impacted a cornfield about 1.5 miles southwest of Brooklyn, Iowa. The private pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed Palwaukee Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois, at 1640 en route to the Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR), and no flight plan was filed. There was no record of the pilot contacting air traffic control facilities or Flight Service Stations while en route to IKV. The expected of time arrival at IKV was approximately 1900. When it became apparent that the flight did not arrive, authorities were notified and a search for the airplane was initiated. The accident site was discovered on December 18, 2003, at approximately 0930. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was a private pilot with a single engine land rating. He did not have an instrument rating. He held a Third Class medical certificate. He had a total of 583 hours of flight time with 103 hours in make and model. The pilot's logbook indicated that he flew 0.5 hours of night time on November 17, 2003, and he recorded 3 landings to a full stop. The pilot's previous night flight was logged on March 18, 2003, which was 0.6 hours in length. The pilot had logged 12 hours of flight time in the last 30 days. The pilot had completed a flight review on March 7, 2003. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a single engine Piper PA-32-260, serial number 32-647. The airplane seated six and had a maximum gross weight of 3,400 pounds. The engine was a 260 horsepower Lycoming O-520-E4B5 engine. The last annual inspection was conducted on November 1, 2003. The airplane had flown 16 hours since the last annual inspection and had a total time of 3,535 tachometer hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1752, the observed weather at Cedar Rapids (CID), Iowa, located about 33 nautical miles to the east-northeast of the accident site, was: Winds 170 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 8 statute miles, light snow, ceiling 6,500 feet overcast above ground level (agl), temperature -1 degree C, dew point -4 degree C, altimeter 29.88 inches of mercury. At 1822, the observed weather at CID was: Winds 180 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 6 statute miles, light snow, few clouds at 6,000 feet agl, temperature -1 degree C, dew point -4 degree C, altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury, snow began at 1818. At 1852, the observed weather at CID was: Winds 170 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 3 statute miles, light snow, clear at or below 12,000 feet agl, temperature -2 degree C, dew point -3 degree C, altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury, snow began at 1818. At 1755, the observed weather at Newton, Iowa (TNU), located about 26 nautical miles west of the accident site, was: Winds 250 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 4 statute miles, light snow, 1,700 feet scattered agl, ceiling 2,300 feet overcast agl, temperature 1 degree C, dew point 0 degree C, altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury. At 1815, the observed weather at TNU was: Winds 260 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 2 statute miles, light snow, ceiling 700 feet overcast agl, temperature 1 degree C, dew point 0 degree C, altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury. At 1835, the observed weather at TNU was: Winds 260 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, light snow, ceiling 500 feet overcast agl, temperature 1 degree C, dew point 0 degree C, altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury. At 1753, the observed weather at Marshalltown (MIW), Iowa, located about 31 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, was: Winds 280 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 1 3/4 statute miles, light snow, mist, ceiling 1,000 feet overcast agl, temperature -2 degree C, dew point -2 degree C, altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury. At 1830, the observed weather at MIW was: Winds 280 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 1 1/2 statute miles, light snow, mist, ceiling 800 feet broken agl, 1,200 feet overcast agl, temperature -2 degree C, dew point -2 degree C, altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury. At 1853, the observed weather at MIW was: Winds 280 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 1 3/4 statute miles, light snow, mist, ceiling 800 feet broken agl, 1,200 feet overcast agl, temperature -2 degree C, dew point -2 degree C, altimeter 29.85 inches of mercury. The in-flight weather advisory, AIRMET Zulu update 4 for ice and freezing level, was valid from December 17, 2003, from 1445 to 2100. The AIRMET warned of occasional moderate rime/mixed icing in cloud and precipitation between freezing level and FL180 (18,000 feet). The in-flight weather advisory, AIRMET Sierra update 5 for IFR and mountain obscuration, was valid from December 17, 2003, from 1445 to 2100. The AIRMET warned of occasional ceiling below 1,000 feet agl and/or visibility below 3 miles precipitation/mist. The Area Forecast (FA) that was in effect for the northern/eastern portions of Iowa warned of: Scattered to broken clouds 3,500 feet agl, 7,000 feet overcast agl, tops to FL250. Occasional ceiling 2,000 feet agl overcast, visibility 3 to 5 miles, light snow showers, mist. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The accident site was located in a harvested cornfield in an area of rolling hills. The coordinates were 41 degrees 42.342 minutes north latitude, 092 degrees 27.005 minutes west longitude. The wreckage path was approximately 700 feet from the initial point of impact to the main wreckage on a 035 degree magnetic heading. Both of the wings, the wingtip fuel tanks, and the outboard section of the right horizontal stabilator separated from the fuselage during the impact sequence. The vertical stabilator was displaced to the left and partially separated from the empennage. There was no ground fire. The left and right wingtip fuel tanks were located about 150 feet from the initial point of impact. The left wing was located about 285 feet in the wreckage path. The wing was bent upward near mid span. The aileron and flap remained attached. The aileron bellcrank was separated from its mounting and pulled inboard. The aileron control and balance cable was verified from the left bellcrank to the control wheel chain and from the left bellcrank to the right side bellcrank. The landing gear was separated and was found along the wreckage path. The right wing was located about 375 feet in the wreckage path. The wing was pushed inboard and buckled near mid span and was in a "U" shape. The aileron remained attached but the aileron bellcrank was separated from its mounting and pulled inboard. The balance cable continuity was verified to the left bellcrank. The control cable was separated near the wing root. The separation was frayed and was consistent with overload impact damage. The landing gear was separated and was found along the wreckage path. The empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The horizontal stabilator remained in place, although the outboard section of the right horizontal stabilator was separated along the rivet line. The hinge points were secure and the stop bolts were in place. The control cables were secure and continuity was verified to the control wheel 'T' bar in the cockpit. Elevator trim was found at a setting of about 1 1/2 - 2 degrees nose down trim. The cabin of the fuselage was partially separated at the windshield line. All control cables remained attached to the cockpit controls. The air-driven attitude gyro, the air-driven directional gyro, and the electric-driven turn and bank gyro were disassembled. The gyros exhibited no rotational impact marks. The inspection of the engine revealed that the crankshaft rotated. The engine drive train exhibited continuity to all the aft ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3733W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3733W-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 32-647, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-647 - Airframe hours: 3535 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dan Lawson - Registered owner: Dan Lawson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2003, 16 hours before - Departed: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Destination: IKV, Ankeny, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 7, 2003; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 583 total, 103 in this make and model, 476 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: TNU, 37 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 20031217034769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217034769A), Dec 17, 2003: Piper PA32260, Brooklyn, IA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. (-23) Pilot obtained weather brief from prescott AZ fss. VFR flight was not recommended. Pilot left pwk enroute to ikv and encountered IFR conditions along the… 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.