# NTSB MKC84LA042: Piper PA-32-260, N43302, Schuyler, NE, December 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1983, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Schuyler, NE
- Coordinates: 41.44091, -97.04985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4409&lon=-97.0499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33605/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA042

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - anti-ice/deice system - undetermined (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - blocked(partial) (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE DESCENDING TOWARD THE PLANNED DESTINATION, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH & THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO IMPROVE THE ENG'S PERFORMANCE BY USING CARBURETOR HEAT. HE MADE A LOCALIZER-ONLY APCH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE RWY AT THE MIN DESCENT ALT. A MISSED APCH WAS MADE & HE STARTED TO DIVERT BACK OMAHA, NE. HOWEVER, WHILE EN ROUTE, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AT APRX 500 FT AGL, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH VISUAL REFERENCES. HE SELECTED A SHOW COVERED FIELD & MADE A SOFT FIELD APCH & LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPPED OFF OF A TERRACE ONTO ANOTHER. THE TERRACE WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR DUE TO THE SNOW COVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FUEL NOZZLE WAS COVERED WITH ICE. THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYS WAS FOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43302](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43302-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 32-7500036, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-72500036
- Airframe hours: 3455
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Aaa Air Enterprises., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 13, 1983, 31 hours before
- Departed: OMA, OMAHA, NE
- Destination: COLUMBUS, OH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,377 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,169 as pilot in command, 338 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OLU, 13 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 19831220062209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831220062209A), Dec 20, 1983: Piper PA32260, Schuyler, NE, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine lost power due to icing in carburetor.

## Other investigations on N43302 (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 FTW87FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA025), Dec 3, 1986: Piper PA-32-260 (N43302), Baytown, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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