# NTSB CHI86FA108: Piper PA-46-310P, N43769, Boyne Falls, MI, March 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1986, 16:43 local (21:43 UTC)
- Place: Boyne Falls, MI
- Coordinates: 45.15924, -84.909851 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1592&lon=-84.9099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13250
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13250/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FA108

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN RNAV-B APCH, THE ACFT CRASHED ON HILLY TRRN APRX 3 MI SE OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 750'MSL. IMPACT OCCURRED AFTER THE ACFT HAD TURNED TO THE SSE & WAS DSCNDG. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) FOR THE APCH WAS 1680'. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FND. APRX 4 HRS BFR TAKEOFF, FSS PSNL PROVIDED A WX BRIEFING. THERE WAS NO WX RPRTG STN AT THE DESTN, BUT THE AREA FORECAST WAS FOR MARGINAL VMC WITH ISOLATED VISIBILITIES OF 3 TO 5 MI IN LGT SNW SHOWERS.PELLSTON (APRX 25 MI AWAY) WAS FORECAST FOR A CHANCE OF 1200' OVERCAST & 3 MI VIS WITH LGT SNW SHOWERS, BUT THIS INFO WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PLT. LATER, WHEN THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN, HE DID NOT UPDATE HIS WX BRIEFING. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE CHECKED THE PELLSTON & TRAVERSE CITY WX & WAS ADVISED THEY HAD INDEF OR OBSCD CEILINGS OF 1500' OR LESS WITH GUSTY WNDS & LGT SNW SQUALLS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THERE WERE SNW SHOWERS OR SQUALLS IN THE ACDNT AREA WITH 1/4 TO 3/4 MI VIS. THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE CALLED FOR: RGT CLIMBING TURN TO 3000', PROCEED TO THE IAF (8 MI SOUTH OF ARPT) & HOLD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43769](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43769-2014-12-03), registration cancelled 2014-12-03, S/N 46-8508007, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-8508007
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE1 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard H. Turner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1985
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Destination: D83, BOYNE CITY, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BFA, Boyne Mountain, runway 35, 4,300 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,168 total, 1,100 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 40 knots
- Temperature: 28 °F

## 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 19860323007559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860323007559A), Mar 23, 1986: Piper PA46310P, Boyne Falls, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft struck the ground during apparent missed approach in low visibility. A small amount of marijuana found.

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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