On November 20, 1992, a Piper PA-32RT-300T (registration N39683) operated by Kevin K. Opp was involved in an aviation accident near Kersey, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: INADVERTENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO STRUCTURAL ICING. FACTORS WERE: ICING CONDITIONS, AND FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An IFR cross country flight lost radar contact after descending below coverage. The aircraft was found 12 hours later in a field nine miles from the destination. Conditions included dark night, 600 ft broken clouds, fog, and structural icing.
Incident Overview
Aircraft on an IFR cross country flight to its base airport was cleared to descend and cleared for an instrument approach to the planned destination, an uncontrolled airport. Radar contact was lost when the aircraft descended to an altitude below radar coverage capability.
Search and Recovery
When the flight plan was not closed, a search was initiated. The aircraft was found approximately 12 hours later in a field approximately nine miles from the destination airport.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions at the time of the accident were dark night, with 600 feet broken clouds and fog. Structural icing conditions were present and had been forecast in the weather briefing.
What happened in the 20 Nov 1992 Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Kersey, CO?
An IFR cross country flight lost radar contact after descending below coverage. The aircraft was found 12 hours later in a field nine miles from the destination. Conditions included dark night, 600 ft broken clouds, fog, and structural icing.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 20 Nov 1992 involved a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registration N39683, operated by Kevin K. Opp, at Kersey, CO.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
INADVERTENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO STRUCTURAL ICING. FACTORS WERE: ICING CONDITIONS, AND FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
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