Piper PA-32RT-300 N83JF

Summary

On 13 March 1994 at about 23:45 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N83JF was involved in an accident near Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 March 1994 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Harbor Springs (D87)

Coordinates

45.4295, -84.9795

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N83JF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pontiac → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CHI94LA104

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS AFTER THE CONDITIONS WERE FIRST ENCOUNTERED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TREES CONTACTED DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLIGHT DURING WHICH A POSSIBLE CHANCE OF A LITTLE BIT OF ICING AT 6000 FEET WAS MENTIONED. DURING THE FLIGHT AT ALTITUDES OF 4,000 FEET AND BELOW, THE AIRCRAFT PICKED UP HEAVY ICING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT DURING THE VOR APPROACH SO HE MADE A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN VISUAL CONTACT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF ICE ON THE AIRPLANE, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WITH FULL POWER. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.