Piper PA-18 N2191J

Summary

On 13 January 2001 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N2191J was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, 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

13 January 2001 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.2322, -151.0761

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N2191J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chugiak → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA029

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control. Factors in the accident were the presence of carburetor icing conditions, and snow-covered terrain that was unsuitable for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). He observed an area of snow showers ahead of the airplane, and decided to descend to about 500 feet agl. The pilot said he reduced the engine throttle without first applying carburetor heat. When he added engine throttle to level the airplane at 500 feet, the engine began sputtering. He then applied carburetor heat, but the engine did not respond. The engine continued to run rough, and the airplane could not sustain level flight. The pilot selected a snow-covered gravel bar for a forced landing. The airplane touched down in snow that was about 18 inches deep. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over, and received damage to the right wing lift strut and the rudder. The pilot reported the weather conditions in the area of the accident as 1,200 to 1,500 feet overcast; temperature 35 to 38 degrees F; light to moderate snow showers. According to published carburetor icing charts, the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident (38 degrees and visible moisture) reflected the probability of serious icing utilizing descent power. A postaccident inspection disclosed no mechanical anomalies with the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.