# NTSB MKC87LA062: Piper PA-32-300, N56285, Mason City, IA, March 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1987, 19:20 local (Mar 16, 1987, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Mason City, IA
- Coordinates: 43.150287, -93.189697 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1503&lon=-93.1897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87LA062

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - attempted, pilot in command
  - power on landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - level off - not possible
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING AND AN IFR CLEARANCE FROM GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA TO DES MOINES, IOWA PRIOR TO DEPARTURE; AND THAT THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT FOR STRONGER THAN FORECASTED HEADWINDS ALOFT. ENROUTE, THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, HE RECEIVED TWO IN-FLIGHT WX ADVISORIES BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO DSM. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, FORECASTED--AND KNOWN--ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. SEVERAL FAA WEATHER BRIEFING PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE PILOT WAS WARNED OF ICING CONDITIONS ON ALL OF HIS CONTACTS WITH FSS. ONLY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PICKING UP RIME ICE DID THE PILOT REQUEST VECTORS TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED NOSE FIRST AS THE PILOT REDUCED POWER OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD--THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED UPON IMPACT, DAMAGING THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE MOUNTS. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF ICE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56285](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56285), registered now, S/N 32-7340168, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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: 32-7340168
- Airframe hours: 3338
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-KIA5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: R.C. Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1986
- Departed: GRM, GRAND MARAIS, MN
- Destination: DSM, DES MOINES, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MCW, Mason City Muni., runway 12, 5,502 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,190 total, 1,648 in this make and model, 2,069 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCW, 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 19870315005949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870315005949A), Mar 15, 1987: Piper PA32300, Mason City, IA, Substantial damage. While making an approach to airport pilot landed nose first on runway threshold. Nose gear collapsed. Ice on wings.

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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