Rogers Municipal -Carte Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rogers, Arkansas 72756
Sunday, March 10, 2013 19:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on approach, ice accumulated on the wings’ leading edges. The pilot stated that the airplane was flying and handling well but that the air was turbulent during the descent. According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 75 to 100 feet above ground level, he encountered “severe turbulence” and a “downdraft,” which resulted in his inability to control the airplane's descent. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The sudden loss of control was consistent with inadequate airspeed for the weather conditions and leading edge ice buildup on the wings, which led to an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain control due to a sudden turbulence encounter while on final approach. Contributing to the accident was ice buildup on the wings’ leading edges.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1955
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Rogers
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72756
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 362220N
Event Location Longitude 0940625W
Event Location Airport Rogers Municipal Airport-Carte
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KROG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1359
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1957 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ROG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1359
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KROG 102357Z AUTO 28015G22KT 4SM BR BKN006 O
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31263
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2013 2:13PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71DH
NTSB Number CEN13LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 46-350P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4636027
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats 2
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 22 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1986
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CHATTANOOGA
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37421-1113
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CHATTANOOGA
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37421-1113
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KCHA
Departure City Chattanooga
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KROG
Destination City Rogers
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 20 2013 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record seak
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 6011
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --