Piper PA-32-260 N4803S

Summary

On 9 November 2000 at about 17:20 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N4803S was involved in an accident near Lime Village, Alaska, United States. 5 people were 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

9 November 2000 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lime Village, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Lime Village (2AK)

Coordinates

63.4708, -162.1091

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N4803S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nikolai → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA016

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly utilize carburetor heat. Factors in the accident were the presence of carburetor icing conditions, and unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During on-demand air taxi passenger flight with four passengers, the commercial certificated pilot described the weather conditions along the route of flight as 4,000 to 5,000 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles, temperature 35 to 40 degrees F, with areas of snow showers above 2,000 feet, and rain showers below 2,000 feet. During a left turn from the base leg to the final approach heading of the landing pattern at the destination airport, the engine sputtered. The pilot confirmed there were no caution lights on the instrument panel. He confirmed the fuel selector was on the right wing tip fuel tank. He then selected carburetor heat, and the engine lost almost all power. From about 200 feet above the ground, he pilot selected an emergency landing area on the bank of a river, short of the landing threshold. During the ground collision, all of the landing gear were sheared off, and the left wing was buckled. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. According to published carburetor icing charts, the meteorological conditions were conducive to severe icing under descent power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.