# NTSB CHI94LA064: Piper PA-23-150, N1346P, Dowagiac, MI, January 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 1994, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Dowagiac, MI - Coordinates: 41.979988, -86.109146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9800&lon=-86.1091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9453/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA064 ## Probable cause was the pilot not maintaining directional control during the takeoff ground roll. Factors related to the accident were the icy, snow covered runway and poor preflight planning/preparation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis THE PILOT BEGAN A TAKEOFF ROLL ON A RUNWAY THAT HAD PACKED SNOW AND ICE WHICH WAS COVERED WITH FOUR INCHES OF SNOW. SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER THE AIRPLANE TURNED TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, EVENTUALLY GOING THROUGH A SNOWBANK. THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED THE CONTROL THE AIRPLANE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO ON THE 100 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINES. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 1994, at 0745 eastern standard time (est), a Piper PA-23-150, N1346P, registered to David Weiss of Dowagiac, Michigan, and piloted by a multi-engine rated private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snowbank during takeoff roll on runway 27 (4,700' X 100' asphalt covered with three to four inches of snow over packed snow and ice) at the Dowagiac Municipal Airport, Dowagiac, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was departing Dowagiac, Michigan, at 0745 est. According to the pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "The aircraft was pulling to the left..." after he had advanced the throttles. He stated he tried to correct for the left turning force but was unable to due to the deepening snow on the runway's left side. He said the airplane went through a snowbank on the runway's left side. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), the pilot said that both engines on N1346P were running correctly. He was asked if the left engine had any mechanical problems. The pilot's answer was "no." The pilot restated his written and spoken statements during a telephone interview. The pilot was asked why he did not abort the takeoff when he became aware of the airplane's movement toward the runway's left side. He said he had no idea why he did not abort. The on-scene investigation revealed a collapsed nose gear, forward fuselage bulkhead crushing, the forward fuselage internal frame was bent in the area surrounding the landing gear trunnion mount. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1346P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1346P-2012-07-30), registration cancelled 2012-07-30, S/N 23-392, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 392 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Weiss - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1993, 74 hours before - Destination: FTY, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: C91, Dowagiac Municipal, runway 27, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 63 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BEH ## 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 19940114000409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940114000409A), Jan 14, 1994: Piper PA23150, Dowagiac, MI, Substantial damage. Tried to depart snow and ice covered runway in snow storm. Veered into snowbank runway edge. Failed to timely abort 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.