# NTSB MKC90MA115: Piper PA-46-310P, N22EK, Naylor, MO, May 27, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1990, 10:34 local (15:34 UTC)
- Place: Naylor, MO
- Coordinates: 36.569431, -90.600372 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5694&lon=-90.6004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90MA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90MA115

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE PITOT HEAT BEFORE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL, FOLLOWED BY HIS IMPROPER RESPONSE TO ERRONEOUS AIRSPEED INDICATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT TUBE BY ATMOSPHERIC ICING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - pitot/static system - ice (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - false indication (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
  - stabilizer - overload
  - stabilizer - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TKOF, THE PLT RCVD PROGRESSIVE ALT CLNCS TO FL200. WHILE CRUISING AT FL200, HE RPRTD 'MODERATE CHOP.'  AT ABT 1125 CDT, HE REQD & RCVD CLNC TO FL220. ABT 3 MIN LTR, HE INQUIRED ABT CLD TOPS & SAID HE WAS 'IN A LAYER RIGHT NOW AT ABOUT FLIGHT LEVEL 200 TO 210.'  SOON THEREAFTER, THE ACFT BGN ALT DEVIATIONS & WENT ABV THE ASSIGNED ALT OF FL220 (22,000'). IT THEN DSCNDD TO ABT 20,500', WHERE IT PITCHED UP TO AN ALT OF ABT 23,000'. THE ACFT THEN WENT INTO A STEEP DSCNT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN IN-FLT BREAKUP OF THE ACFT OCCURRED AT ABT THE TIME IT EMERGED FM THE CLDS NR THE 2000 FT LVL. PIECES OF WRECKAGE WERE FND OVR A WIDE AREA. THE LEFT WING WAS FND ABT .2 MI FM THE FUSELAGE; PIECES OF THE RUDDER & STABILIZERS WERE FND ABT 100 YDS FM THE FUSELAGE. AN EXAM OF THE FRACTURES ON MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS REVEALED FEATURES TYPICAL OF OVERSTRESS SEPN. NO PREEXISTING CRACKS WERE FND. AN AREA FORECAST HAD FLT PRCTNS FOR IFR, TSTMS, ICING IN THE VCNTY OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. THE PITOT HEAT SW WAS FND IN THE 'OFF' PSN. (SEE: NTSB/SIR-92/03)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22EK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22EK-1991-03-01), registration cancelled 1991-03-01, S/N 468508024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-8508024
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE1B 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Adams, Frank M
- Departed: UOS, SEWANEE, TN
- Destination: SGF, SPRINGFIELD, MO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,603 total, 182 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGI, 61 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 19900527017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900527017389A), May 27, 1990: Piper PA46310P, Springfield, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost radio and radar contact

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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