# NTSB MKC85FA066: Piper PA-23, N1241P, Cedar Rapids, IA, March 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1985, 11:13 local (17:13 UTC)
- Place: Cedar Rapids, IA
- Location: 42.0083° N, 91.6441° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cedar Rapids, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0083&lon=-91.6441&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FA066

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

PLT REPORTED NO FORWARD VIS DUE TO ICE ON WINDSHIELD. N1291P THEN DIVERTED TO CID WHICH HAS RAPCON. THE TEMP AT THE SURFACE WAS 32 DEGS F BUT WAS REPORTED TO BE HIGHER AT 4,000 FT MSL. THE FLT CLIMBED TO 4,000 FT AND BEGAN LOSING THE ICE BUT THEN REPORTED GETTING IN WORSE TROUBLE.  CID VECTORED THE ACFT TOWARD THE CID ARPT AND WHILE DESCENDING N1291P REPORTED THAT AN ENG HAD QUIT.  N1291P SAID THE ACFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THEN REPORTED GOING DOWN. AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN AND CRASHED IN AN OPEN FARM FIELD. THIS ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLT IN ICING CONDITIONS. EVEN THOUGH THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE FULL ON POSITION, THE PITOT HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. NO PROP,WINDSHIELD,OR AIRFRAME DEICING EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED BUT A WINDSHIELD ELECTRICAL ANTI-ICE WAS INSTALLED & ON. THE PLTS WX BRIEFING WAS(LIMITED BY THE PLT) A PARTIAL ONE BUT INCLUDED THE FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR ICING CONDITIONS,IFR & TURBULENCE. THE ACFT MODIFICATION TO PERMIT USE OF AUTO GAS INCREASED CARB ICING POTENTIAL(FAA AC 91-33A).

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1241P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-262
- Airframe hours: 3377
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-3 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wesam, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 1984, 51 hours before
- Departed: D02, OSAGE, IA
- Destination: IOW, IOWA CITY, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,200 total, 960 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 23 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CID, 5 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 19850303004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850303004969A), Mar 3, 1985: Piper PA23, Cedar Rapids, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Windshield iced up. Engine quit and pilot could not maintain altitude. Icing forecast for area.

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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