Taylorcraft BC12-65 N36291

Summary

On 3 April 2006 at about 18:00 local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-65 registered N36291 was involved in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 April 2006 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Iliamna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.7333, -155.3764

Aircraft

Taylorcraft BC12-65

Registration

N36291

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Iliamna → Iliamna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06LA043

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise, and an in-flight collision with snow-covered terrain. Factors associated with the accident were an unfavorable wind, and the pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during the emergency descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot reported that while in cruise flight over an area of snow-covered terrain, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm. The application of carburetor heat and engine emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. The pilot said that he was unable to restore adequate engine power to maintain level flight, and he selected a snow-covered plateau as a forced landing site, which required a downwind approach due to terrain features. Just before touch down on the soft, snow-covered terrain, he said the left wing stalled and struck the ground, causing the airplane to cartwheel to the left. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. In the pilot's written report to the NTSB, he stated that weather conditions at the time of the accident were, in part: Visibility, 2 miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet broken; wind, 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots; temperature, 20 degrees F, with light snow showers and blowing snow. In the section of the form that inquires about mechanical malfunction/failure, he wrote: "Carb Icing."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.