# NTSB CHI94LA104: Piper PA-32RT-300, N83JF, Harbor Springs, MI, March 13, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1994, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Harbor Springs, MI - Coordinates: 45.429515, -84.979454 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4295&lon=-84.9795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9482/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA104 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS AFTER THE CONDITIONS WERE FIRST ENCOUNTERED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TREES CONTACTED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (cause) - wing - ice - altitude - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLIGHT DURING WHICH A POSSIBLE CHANCE OF A LITTLE BIT OF ICING AT 6000 FEET WAS MENTIONED. DURING THE FLIGHT AT ALTITUDES OF 4,000 FEET AND BELOW, THE AIRCRAFT PICKED UP HEAVY ICING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT DURING THE VOR APPROACH SO HE MADE A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN VISUAL CONTACT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF ICE ON THE AIRPLANE, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WITH FULL POWER. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TREES. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1994, at 1845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 32RT-300, N83JF, operated by Dennis G. Wolgin collided with trees during a missed approach at the Harbor Springs Airport, Harbor Springs, Michigan, while on a CFR 14 Part 91 flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Pontiac, Michigan, on March 13, 1994, at 1710 est. The pilot reported he departed Pontiac in visual meteorological conditions which gradually decreased to IMC during the flight. He continued to state that after being in IMC conditions for awhile, a "very slight appearance of light ice" was visible on the leading edges of the wings. The pilot contacted Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) stating he was getting a "touch of build-up." He inquired about PIREPs and asked if a descent to 4,000' mean sea level (msl) would be a better. The controller queried another aircraft regarding en route conditions. The controller then responded that another aircraft at 4,500' msl was out of icing. The pilot of N83JF responded that he was descending to 4,500' msl. The controller informed N83JF to maintain 4,000' msl. Approximately 23 minutes later, the pilot of N83JF once again stated to the controller that he was picking up ice and requested a lower altitude. The controller cleared N83JF to descend to 3,000' msl. The pilot then reported that the conditions at 3,000' msl were not much better. Shortly thereafter the pilot was issued a heading to the initial approach fix for Harbor Springs and was cleared to descend to 2,900' msl. The pilot was then cleared for the approach and advised to cancel his IFR flight plan. The pilot stated that while on the approach the "aircraft began to experience sudden, much heavier icing." The pilot stated he descended to the minimum descent altitude and could not make visual contact with the ground. He stated the airplane was becoming hard to control and he had to keep increasing power to maintain airspeed. The pilot stated he then made a turn back toward the airport in an attempt to make visual contact. He stated the airplane's performance gradually decreased to the point that he could not maintain altitude with full power. He stated he broke out of the clouds and during touchdown the airplane collided with trees. The pilot received a preflight weather briefing from the Lansing, Michigan, Flight Service Station prior to departure. There were no flight precautions for icing issued. The briefer did state, "...southerly flow through the state it's a pretty strong flow and could bring some scattered areas of rain showers...ah...I think it's just mostly rain showers cause it's warm enough but...ah...you won't see any snow until you get pretty far north it is snowing at Pellston right now... ." When issuing the winds aloft for 6,000' msl the briefer stated, "...at Traverse City...the temperatures are negative there they're minus three minus four so if your in the clouds at that level you could see a little bit of icing I've seen virtually no icing reports today... ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83JF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83JF-1996-08-13), registration cancelled 1996-08-13, S/N 32R7985023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7985023 - Airframe hours: 1775 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hagin, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1993, 116 hours before - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: D87, Harbor Springs ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 120 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PLN, 11 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 19940313004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940313004969A), Mar 13, 1994: Piper PA32RT300, Harbor Springs, MI, Destroyed. Had ice on approach. Missed. Became uncontrollable. Descended. Broke out. Hit trees. Weather brief showed light icing 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.