Piper PA-31P N500BH

Summary

On 2 January 1992 at about 19:05 local time, a Piper PA-31P registered N500BH, operated by Becher Hoppe Engineers, Inc., was involved in an accident near Mosinee, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 January 1992 at 19:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Mosinee, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

44.7799, -89.6800

Aircraft

Piper PA-31P

Registration

N500BH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Becher Hoppe Engineers, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Mosinee

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI92FA066

1 person died.

AN INFLIGHT FIRE WITH THE CABIN HEATER AS THE ORIGIN, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH AT HIS DESTINATION, AND REQUESTED TO REPORT ALTITUDE OF 3,000 FEET ON THE APPROACH. THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT. AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN SOFT FIELD SIX MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. LANDING GEAR WAS UP, FLAPS WERE DOWN. FISHERMAN NEARBY REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES SOUNDED FINE, BUT THE SOUND WAS CHANGING IN PITCH AND INTENSITY. HE REPORTED THAT GOT QUIET JUST A FEW SECONDS BEFORE HE HEARD THE IMPACT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A FIRE IN THE NOSE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. THE CABIN HEATER IS LOCATED IN THE NOSE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, AND HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF DISCREPANCIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.