# NTSB CHI95LA085: Piper PA-23, N2092P, Benton Harbor, MI, February 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 7, 1995, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Benton Harbor, MI - Coordinates: 42.110004, -86.440719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1100&lon=-86.4407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA085 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. Factors were carburetor icing conditions, snow, and blowing snow. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission - object - tree(s) ## Analysis WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 7,000 MEAN SEA LEVEL, THE AIRPLANE SUFFERED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS TO THE RIGHT ENGINE, WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THAT ENGINE. THE PILOT TRIED MIXTURES FORWARD (RICH), BOOST PUMPS ON, AND FUEL BACK ON MAIN TANKS. WHEN HE TRIED CARBURETOR HEAT, IT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF 300 RPM, WHICH HE CONSIDERED NORMAL, AND HE TURNED IT OFF AFTER 30 TO 45 SECONDS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT AN ILS APPROACH IN IMC CONDITIONS, BUT THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT THEN INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BROKE OUT OF THE OVERCAST ABOUT 600 TO 900 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW RESTRICTING VISIBILITY, PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH WIRES AND A TREE, DURING THE LANDING. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT FIVE MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PREEXISTING ANOMALIES. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 1995, at 1520 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 23, N2092P, registered to Ronald A. Hoffmeyer of Hampshire, Illinois, and operated by an instrument rated commercial pilot, suffered a partial loss of power on one engine while in cruise flight. While attempting an ILS approach to a precautionary landing at Benton Harbor, Michigan, a power loss on the remaining engine occurred. The airplane impacted wires, trees, and the terrain approximately five miles short of runway 27 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating on an IFR flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions. The flight had departed Waukegan, Illinois, at 1330 central standard time, with the intended destination of Plymouth, Michigan. The pilot stated that the right engine began "missing" and lost power gradually. He stated that he tried mixtures forward (rich), boost pumps on, and fuel back on mains. When he applied carburetor heat, he observed a loss of 300 rpm, which he considered normal and turned it off after 30 to 45 seconds. When the first engine began to lose power, the airplane was on "top" of an overcast, according to the pilot, but after losing power the airplane descended into the clouds (visible moisture). While in the clouds, he elected to shut down the right engine due to the continued roughness. After the right engine was shut down and during the descent the left engine began to lose power which continued. The pilot decided that continued flight to the airport was not possible and he elected to make an off airport emergency landing. The pilot stated that the airplane "broke out" between 600 and 900 feet above ground level with snow and blowing snow restricting visibility. An examination of the engines and airframe subsequent to the accident failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies. Temperature and dew point for Benton Harbor, Michigan, were 21 degrees (F), and 13 degrees (F) respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2092P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2092P-1997-02-26), registration cancelled 1997-02-26, S/N 23680 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-680 - Airframe hours: 4649 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hoffmeyer, Ronald A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1995, 83 hours before - Departed: UGN, WAUKEGAN, IL - Destination: 1D2, PLYMOUTH, MI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 267 in this make and model, 1,869 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BEH, 5 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 19950207001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950207001269A), Feb 7, 1995: Piper PA23150, Benton Harbor, MI, Substantial damage. Rough engines. Shut one down. In icing area. Vectored beh. Landed off airport. Wing severed by tree. Carb icing. (-23) see narrative #CHI95LA085 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.