Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Saturday, December 19, 1992 5:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEF WHICH INCLUDED ICING PRECAUTIONS. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF IN NIGHT, IMC, WHICH INCLUDED FREEZING RAIN, SLEET AND SNOW FALLING AROUND THE AIRPORT. TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE REPORTED 'CARB ICE' AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE AIRPLANE BROKE APART IN FLIGHT. THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF ENGINE POWER AT IMPACT AND WITNESS ACCOUNTS OF LOUD, EVEN ENGINE NOISE. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S DESIGN STRESS LIMITS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/19/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 505
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GAYLORD
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49735
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 448 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID PLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 720
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 932
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 19 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51128
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6185P
NTSB Number CHI93FA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-180
Aircraft Serial Number 1287
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 18 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2953
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN C MYERS & CLARE R COLWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 368 FARMBROOK LANE
Aircraft Owner City GAYLORD
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49735
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN C MYERS & CLARE R COLWELL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 368 FARMBROOK LANE
Operator City GAYLORD
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49735
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code GLR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 455
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OI03
Destination City ST. CLAIRSVILLE
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --