# NTSB DEN00LA038: Piper PA-23-250, N128Y, Rock Springs, WY, January 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2000, 14:43 local (21:43 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.589385, -109.21994 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5894&lon=-109.2199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48435/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA038 ## Probable cause A forced landing on rough, unsuitable terrain. Factors were: Inadequate preflight planning, flight into known adverse weather conditions containing snow, high gusting winds, low temperatures, and a total loss of power for non mechanical reasons due to induction system icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling - weather condition - high wind - weather condition - gusts - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - induction air control/system - ice ingestion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - weather condition - low ceiling - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis The pilot initiated the cross-country flight on a VFR flight plan in IMC conditions. He picked up an IFR clearance following his departure. After approximately 15 minutes of flight, the pilot said he lost power to the right engine due to induction system icing. This was followed by a loss of power to the left engine. The pilot conducted an emergency, landing gear retracted, landing on rough uneven terrain. Weather conditions at the departure airport were 200 foot overcast skies and 1/2 mile visibility with snow. The wind was from 280 degrees at 17 knots with gusts to 23 knots, the altimeter was 29.86 Hg, and the temperature/dew point was 25 and 19 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2000, at 1443 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N128Y, made a forced landing 10 miles southwest of Rock Springs, Wyoming, following a total loss of power. The private certificated, instrument rated pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed in the air. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for this cross-country flight from Rock Springs, to Boise, Idaho. The flight originated from Rock Springs at 1407 on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. According to the pilot, he departed Rock Springs as snow was starting and proceeded southwest in order to stay in visual conditions. He contacted Salt Lake Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and filed an IFR flight plan. He then proceeded on his flight in IMC conditions. The pilot said that after about 15 minutes of flight in IMC conditions, the right engine began to fail due to induction system icing. The loss of power to the right engine was followed by loss of power to the left engine and an emergency, landing gear retracted, landing was made by the pilot on rough uneven terrain. Recorded weather conditions at Rock Springs when the flight departed were 200 foot overcast skies, and 1/2 mile measured visibility with snow. The wind was from 280 degrees magnetic heading at 17 knots with gusts to 23 knots. The temperature was 25 degrees Fahrenheit (F.) and the dew point was 19 degrees F. The altimeter setting was 29.86 inches of mercury. Other than the pilot's report of IMC conditions, weather conditions at the accident site were not recorded. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N128Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N128Y-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 27-21, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-21 - Airframe hours: 2980 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas A. Mccance - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: RKS, WY - Destination: BOI, BOISE, ID - Flight plan: VFR/IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 989 total, 467 in this make and model, 769 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 17 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RKS, 10 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 20000108004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000108004769A), Jan 8, 2000: Piper PA23250, Rock Springs, WY, No damage. (-23) The pilot disgarded the warnings issued via an AIRMET concering the current conditions and forcast conditions. He was advised of the current conditions… 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.