# NTSB FTW93LA106: Piper PA-23-160, N4341P, Mena, AR, March 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1993, 21:20 local (Mar 16, 1993, 03:20 UTC) - Place: Mena, AR - Coordinates: 34.579952, -94.229866 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5800&lon=-94.2299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA106 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, HIS IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES, DARKNESS, AND THE HIGH (MOUNTAINOUS) TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - comm/nav equipment,distance measuring eqpt(dme) - not installed - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING IFR ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, PILOT REQUESTED & WAS CLEARED FOR VOR/DME-A APPROACH, THOUGH THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH DME. HE WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND & MAINTAIN 4200' MSL UNTIL REACHING VOR. HE STATED THAT AFTER REACHING VOR, HE WAS MAKING A (PROCEDURE) TURN TO INTERCEPT INBOUND COURSE (105 DEGREES), WHEN AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. HE APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT AFTER STARTING PROCEDURE TURN, AIRPLANE CROSSED INBOUND RADIAL, HEADING EAST, & CONTINUED 13 MILES. PILOT THEN TURNED SOUTH TO INTERCEPT INBOUND COURSE, BUT AIRPLANE CONTINUED DESCENT. IT CRASHED ON RISING MOUNTAIN SLOPE ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF AIRPORT AT ABOUT 2300' MSL. MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE WAS 2360'. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. SURFACE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WERE 43/40 DEGREES WHICH WAS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE. PASSENGER STATED THEY ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CARBURETOR ICING & POSSIBLE EN ROUTE STRUCTURAL ICE, PILOT CYCLED CARBURETOR HEAT OFF & ON AS ICE WAS BURNED OFF & USED AIRSPEED INDICATOR AS ICE INDICATOR. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1993, at approximately 2115 central standard time, a Piper PA 23 160 multiengine airplane, N4341P, was substantially damaged during an instrument approach to Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport, Mena, Arkansas, when it impacted into a wooded area approximately 12 nautical miles northwest of the airport. The ATP rated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The other passenger received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight originated from Newport News, Virginia, with a planned intermediate stop in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The final destination was Mena, Arkansas. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan via radio with Little Rock Approach Control who handed him off to Memphis Center. At 2104, Memphis Center cleared the airplane to the Rich Mountain VORTAC for the VOR/DME A approach to Mena. The pilot was instructed to maintain 4,200 feet msl until reaching the Initial Approach Fix. This was the last radar contact. At 2108, the pilot reported his position as 6 miles from the VORTAC. The pilot radioed that he was starting the approach at 2115. No further radio contact with the pilot occurred. The pilot made the following statements to the FAA inspector. When he initiated the approach the airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions with moderate turbulence, light to heavy rain showers, and strong winds out of the south. The pilot attempted the approach even without having DME equipment installed on the airplane. As he continued the approach, the airplane descended rapidly before it impacted into the wooded area. The pilot did not see the terrain until impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4341P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4341P-1994-08-24), registration cancelled 1994-08-24, S/N 231842 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-1842 - Airframe hours: 3978 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia - Registered owner: Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 1992, 52 hours before - Departed: THA, TULLAHOMA, TN - Destination: M39, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,520 total, 240 in this make and model, 3,064 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FSM, 18 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 19930315005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930315005539A), Mar 15, 1993: Piper PA23160, Mena, AR, Substantial damage. Struck trees on mountainside trying to make VOR approach, no DME, encountered airframe and carb ice. ## Other investigations on N4341P (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC80FNE03|NYC80FNE04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FNE03%7CNYC80FNE04), Nov 19, 1979: Piper PA-23 (N4341P), Stratford, CT, substantial damage 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.