# NTSB CHI82DA320: Piper PA-22, N8601C, Houston, MN, August 22, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1982, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Houston, MN
- Coordinates: 43.759323, -91.570495 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7593&lon=-91.5705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71091
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71091/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA320

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- Ditching, landing
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - raising of flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1283
- Airframe hours: 1737
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820822040239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820822040239A), Aug 22, 1982: Piper PA22, Houston, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted precautionary landing in field and aircraft crashed during go around.

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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