Dickinson Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dickinson, North Dakota 58601
Saturday, November 26, 1994 16:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A FLIGHT AT NIGHT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE ICE ON THE STRUCTURE AND ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSTRUCTOR REQUESTED AN ALTITUDE CHANGE AND DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH ICE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE INSTRUCTOR LANDING THE AIRPLANE BY USING THE INSTRUMENTS AND BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. A HARD LANDING OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) MISJUDGED THE FLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER (ICING) CONDITION, STRUCTURAL ICE, WINDSHIELD ICE, DARKNESS, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOT TO LAND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1650
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City DICKINSON
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58601
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DICKINSON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DIK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2590
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DIK
Elevation of weather observation facility 2590
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1982
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1920
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2127D
NTSB Number CHI95LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-44-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-44-180
Aircraft Serial Number 44-7995131
Certified Max Gross Weight 3816
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 4723
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHSTAR AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 5, BOX 120
Aircraft Owner City MANKATO
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CTB
Departure City CUTBANK
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BIS
Destination City BISMARK
Destination State ND
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 7
Runway Length 3405
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --