Piper PA-23-160 N4341P
16 March 1993 · Mena, Arkansas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 16 March 1993 at about 03:20 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4341P, operated by Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia, was involved in an accident near Mena, Arkansas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mena, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.5800, -94.2299
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160
- Registration
- N4341P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Tullahoma → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- FTW93LA106
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, HIS IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES, DARKNESS, AND THE HIGH (MOUNTAINOUS) TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING IFR ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, PILOT REQUESTED & WAS CLEARED FOR VOR/DME-A APPROACH, THOUGH THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH DME. HE WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND & MAINTAIN 4200' MSL UNTIL REACHING VOR. HE STATED THAT AFTER REACHING VOR, HE WAS MAKING A (PROCEDURE) TURN TO INTERCEPT INBOUND COURSE (105 DEGREES), WHEN AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. HE APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT AFTER STARTING PROCEDURE TURN, AIRPLANE CROSSED INBOUND RADIAL, HEADING EAST, & CONTINUED 13 MILES. PILOT THEN TURNED SOUTH TO INTERCEPT INBOUND COURSE, BUT AIRPLANE CONTINUED DESCENT. IT CRASHED ON RISING MOUNTAIN SLOPE ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF AIRPORT AT ABOUT 2300' MSL. MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE WAS 2360'. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. SURFACE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WERE 43/40 DEGREES WHICH WAS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE. PASSENGER STATED THEY ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CARBURETOR ICING & POSSIBLE EN ROUTE STRUCTURAL ICE, PILOT CYCLED CARBURETOR HEAT OFF & ON AS ICE WAS BURNED OFF & USED AIRSPEED INDICATOR AS ICE INDICATOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Eloy, Arizona, United States | R.finkenbine & R. Kestler | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Spencer, Iowa, United States | Robert L. Cozine | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Diablo, California, United States | Norman E. Lamantia | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Dec 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Showlow, Arizona, United States | John C. Morrison | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Elmwood Park, New Jersey, United States | Alan B. Fleischman | Fatal | 6 |
| 29 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Ryan, Lawrence J. | Fatal | 4 |
All 1,716 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 1993 | Cessna 150G | Salem, Arkansas, United States | Zachman, David S. | No injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 1993 | Grumman G-164 | Goodwin, Arkansas, United States | Racer's AG Service | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 1993 | Grumman G-164A | Parkin, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-18 | Marshall, Arkansas, United States | Mistak, John | No injuries | - |
| 30 Mar 1993 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Des Arc, Arkansas, United States | McConnaughhay, Kenneth W. | No injuries | - |
| 11 Apr 1993 | Grumman G-164 | Forrest City, Arkansas, United States | Riddle Flying Service | No injuries | - |