CHI82DA320

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-22 · Houston, MN · August 22, 1982

Accident · No injuriesFinal report
Date
August 22, 1982, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
Place
Houston, MN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8601CPiper PA-22
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 22, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19820822040239A
Case key
71091

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Flight into known adverse weather - continuedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
DitchingLanding
Precautionary landing - initiatedPilot in command
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Distance - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Airspeed - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Go-around - delayedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
Raising of flaps - improper use ofPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The pilot obtained a weather briefing before departing on a cross-country flight from west bend, WI to waseca, MN. Reportedly, the ceiling was 2500 to 3000 ft or better (as briefed) until after crossing the Mississippi river. The weather then began to deteriorate and the pilot encountered moderate turbulence. Subsequently, he flew into a misty condition that obscured his forward visibility. He found himself in a valley with the surrounding hilltops "nearly obscured" and elected to land in a harvested field. A downwind landing was made to avoid obstructions at the windward end of the field. After roundout, the aircraft continued to float, and when the pilot realized he was running out of room, he initiated a go-around. He applied power and retracted the flaps from full down to full up, but the aircraft's ability to climb and accelerate were negligible. To avoid hitting trees, the pilot elected to land in a river near the end of the field.

Aircraft

Registration
N8601C
Reported as
Piper PA-22
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22-1283
Airframe hours
1,737
Engine
Lycoming O-290-D2, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Rolf E. Iverson Ltd.
Registered owner
Rolf E. Iverson Ltd.
Departed
West Bend, WI
Destination
Waseca, MN

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
91 total · 78 in this make and model · 52 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
3 statute miles

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.