# NTSB DEN90LA029: Piper PA-28-161, N130ND, Grand Forks, ND, December 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1989, 20:00 local (Dec 2, 1989, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.919036, -97.070922 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9190&lon=-97.0709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17871
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17871/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA029

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE CFI TO UTILIZE CARBURETOR HEAT PRIOR TO THE INDUCTION ICING AND POWER LOSS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AND FORECAST INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - single engine aircraft
  - carburetor heat - inaccurate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable
  - terrain condition - soft
  - light condition - dark night
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE CFI RECEIVED A FSS WEATHER BRIEFING FORECASTING SNOW SHOWERS BOTH EN ROUTE AND ON THE RETURN LEG OF THE FLIGHT. WHILE RECEIVING VECTORS DURING THE RETURN LEG, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS. THE DUAL STUDENT FLEW WHILE THE CFI FILED AND OBTAINED IFR CLEARANCE. THE PLANE FLEW FOR 4 MINUTES THROUGH HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE CLEARANCE PROCEDURES. BOTH PILOTS SAID THE ENGINE QUIT. THE DUAL STUDENT ENTERED EMERGENCY DESCENT WHILE THE CFI ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT AND ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART, TO NO AVAIL. WHEN THE STUDENT SAID HE SAW THE TERRAIN, THE CFI TOOK THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND COMPLETED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED IN THE PLOWED FIELD. THE PLANE SLID TO REST WITH A DAMAGED FUSELAGE AND LEFT WING. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED AN ICE BUILDUP IN THE CARBURETOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N130ND (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2841220
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Departed: PKD, PARK RAPIDS, MN
- Destination: GFK, GRAND FORKS, ND
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 540 total, 19 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 25 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 37 statute miles
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19891201051669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891201051669A), Dec 1, 1989: Piper PA28161, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach in heavy snow at night landed in plowed field and nosed up. Ice build up in carb air intake

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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