# NTSB CHI81FER14: Piper PA-23, N3478P, St.Michael, MN, February 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 10, 1981
- Place: St.Michael, MN · ST.MICHAEL, MN
- Location: 45.2100° N, 93.6650° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Michael, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2100&lon=-93.6650&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127256
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FER14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FER14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0207  81/2/10    ST.MICHAEL,MN       PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 1806
        TIME - 0805                    N3478P              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 93 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MINNEAPOLIS,MN              BENSON,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 2 ENGINES
        WEATHER BRIEFING - RECIEVED RECORDED BRIEFING BY LFMF RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       3500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3478P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3478P-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 23-1452, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810210003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810210003409A), Feb 10, 1981: Piper PA23160, St Michael, MN, Substantial damage. Engines became rough, lost power, due to engine air intake icing. Failed to use carbureator heat. Landed in field.

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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