Des Moines International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Tuesady, January 9, 1996 23:12 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that upon crossing the runway threshold and lowering 25 degrees of flaps, 'the airplane pitched down.' The pilot 'immediately released the flaps and added power, but the airplane was basically uncontrollable at this point.' The pilot reduced power and lowered the flaps prior to striking the runway. The airplane struck the runway on centerline and slid 1,000 feet before coming to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed heavy impact damage forward fuselage, engines and wings. Approximately one-half inch of rime ice was observed adhering to the leading edges of the left and right horizontal stabilizers, and along the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot not using the airplane's deice system which resulted in an accumulation of empennage ice and a tailplane stall. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot's intentional flight into known icing conditions, and the icing conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2312
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DES MOINES
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50321
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DSM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 130
Airport Elevation 957
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1121 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1227
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 8
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3679M
NTSB Number CHI96LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7870121
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 5 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 3158
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SIOUX CENTER AVIATION LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3028 360TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City SIOUX CENTER
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51250
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SOY
Departure City SIOUX CENTER
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2200
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code DSM
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31R
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --