# NTSB GAA16CA107: Piper PA 46, N113WB, Ottawa, KS, January 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 19, 2016, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Ottawa, KS - Coordinates: 38.335277, -95.114997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3353&lon=-95.1150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92603/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92603 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA107 ## Probable cause The flight crews encounter with un-forecasted freezing rain resulting in an uncontrolled descent, forced landing, and substantial damage to the airplane's firewall, and forward pressure bulkhead. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he and the pilot rated student receiving instruction were operating under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions. He reported that throughout the flight the airplane accumulated light rime ice. He recalled that after holding at a Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), they completed a VOR approach, executed the missed approach procedure, set the power to climb at the airspeed of 130 knots indicated airspeed and began to climb to 5000 feet. He reported that as they climbed they encountered freezing rain, the airspeed began to deteriorate and the degree of ice accumulation increased from light to moderate. He reported that all of the airplane's de-ice systems were functioning yet he was not able to maintain altitude. He determined that landing at the destination airport was not an option and executed a forced landing in an open field. He affirmed that during the landing the airplane bounced several times before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward pressure bulkhead and puncture holes in the airplane skin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, he and the pilot rated student receiving instruction were operating under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions. He reported that throughout the flight the airplane accumulated light rime ice. He recalled that after holding at a Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), they completed a VOR approach, executed the missed approach procedure, set the power to climb at the airspeed of 130 knots indicated airspeed and began to climb to 5000 feet. He reported that as they climbed they encountered freezing rain, the airspeed began to deteriorate and the degree of ice accumulation increased from light to moderate. He reported that all of the airplane's de-ice systems were functioning yet he was not able to maintain altitude. He determined that landing at the destination airport was not an option and executed a forced landing in an open field. He affirmed that during the landing the airplane bounced several times before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward pressure bulkhead and puncture holes in the airplane skin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N113WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N113WB-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N 4622193, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46 (350P) - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622193 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 3100.2 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: No Boundaries Aviation LLC - Registered owner: No Boundaries Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2015 - Departed: IXD, OLATHE, KS - Destination: IXD, OLATHE, KS - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,985 total, 290 in this make and model, 2,778 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 12 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: IXD, 24 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92603. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Rated Passenger Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Rated%20Passenger%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - CFII's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFII%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438011&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.