Piper PA-34-200T N3679M

Summary

On 10 January 1996 at about 05:12 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered N3679M was involved in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 January 1996 at 05:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Des Moines International (DSM)

Coordinates

41.5298, -93.6610

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

N3679M

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sioux Center → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI96LA068

1 person was seriously injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.