Primary finding
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.
Investigator assessment
Analysis 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.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 15, 1993, at approximately 2115 central standard time, a Piper PA 23 160 multiengine airplane, N4341P, was substantially damaged during an instrument approach to Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport, Mena, Arkansas, when it impacted into a wooded area approximately 12 nautical miles northwest of the airport. The ATP rated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The other passenger received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight originated from Newport News, Virginia, with a planned intermediate stop in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The final destination was Mena, Arkansas. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan via radio with Little Rock Approach Control who handed him off to Memphis Center. At 2104, Memphis Center cleared the airplane to the Rich Mountain VORTAC for the VOR/DME A approach to Mena. The pilot was instructed to maintain 4,200 feet msl until reaching the Initial Approach Fix. This was the last radar contact. At 2108, the pilot reported his position as 6 miles from the VORTAC. The pilot radioed that he was starting the approach at 2115. No further radio contact with the pilot occurred. The pilot made the following statements to the FAA inspector. When he initiated the approach the airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions with moderate turbulence, light to heavy rain showers, and strong winds out of the south. The pilot attempted the approach even without having DME equipment installed on the airplane. As he continued the approach, the airplane descended rapidly before it impacted into the wooded area. The pilot did not see the terrain until impact. -