Piper PA23-250 accident near Winsted, Minnesota, March 16, 2013
On March 16, 2013, a Piper PA23-250, registered N6222M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Winsted, Minnesota (Winsted Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The obstruction of the right engine’s induction air system by ice, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2013
- Place
- Winsted, Minnesota · Winsted Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23-250 · all PA23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6222M · registry record · serial 27-7754104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the twin-engine airplane's right engine lost power following a descent in icing conditions. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot chose to land at an alternate airport. The airplane subsequently landed short of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed icing on both engines' induction air intakes and air filters. The right engine induction air filter was 100 percent obstructed, and the left engine induction air filter was about 35 percent obstructed. No further engine anomalies were found. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the icing of the right engine's induction air system resulted in a lack of airflow in the system, which prevented combustion and led to the subsequent loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,900 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 24,550 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 18, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,554 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 2013
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JMS Jamestown ND at 11:09 pm
- Destination: CFE Buffalo MN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.