Piper PA-18-105 N316T

Summary

On 6 February 1998 at about 23:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-105 registered N316T was involved in an accident near Sheridan, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 1998 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sheridan, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

44.7903, -106.9494

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-105

Registration

N316T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA125

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Factors relating to the accident were: the carburetor icing (weather) condition, and the lack of a suitable area for an emergency landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise, on a local area personal flight, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to regain power by placing the mixture to rich, applying carburetor heat, and switching fuel tanks. These procedures were ineffective, and the pilot conducted a forced landing beside a road. As the aircraft slowed during landing roll, the main landing gear dug into snow, and the aircraft nosed over. An examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence that would have prevented the engine from operating. The temperature and dew point were 39 and 34 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive to carburetor ice.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.