# NTSB CHI85LA124: Beech A36, N1816M, Traverse City, MI, February 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1985, 19:08 local (Feb 27, 1985, 00:08 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.760929, -85.699211 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7609&lon=-85.6992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA124

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - performed, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - stabilizer - ice (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - aircraft performance,landing capability - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, NO ICING PIREPS OR SIGMETS WERE RECEIVED DURING HIS PREFLT WX BRIEFING. HOWEVER, THE NWS BRIEFER STATED THAT HE TOLD HIM OF ONE PIREP & ONE SIGMET CONCERNING ICING THAT AFFECTED HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION, THE PLT HAD TO DIVERT DUE TO LOW CEILINGS. HE THEN BEGAN TO NOTICE ICE ON HIS WINGS AS HE FLEW THRU HEAVY RAIN. HE BEGAN AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH WITH A ONE INCH BUILDUP OF ICE. AS THE ICING INCREASED, HE USED FULL POWER TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED MARGIN. OVER THE APPROACH LIGHTS, HE REDUCED POWER SLIGHTLY & LOWERED THE GEAR. THE AIRSPEED DROPPED RAPIDLY & THE LEFT WING STALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED A SNOW BANK APRX 40 FT SHORT OF THE RWY & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A ONE INCH THICK LAYER OF MIXED RIME & CLEAR ICE ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS & TAIL SURFACES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1816M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1801
- Airframe hours: 2483
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: J.L. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 18, 1984, 50 hours before
- Departed: APN, ALPENA, MI
- Destination: 4Y4, GAYLORD, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TVC, Cherry Capitol, runway 28, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,665 total, 136 in this make and model, 1,477 as pilot in command, 264 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 15 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 1 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 19850226004579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850226004579A), Feb 26, 1985: Beech A36, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Stalled short of runway end during landing. Airframe covered with thick layer of clear and rime ice.

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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