Piper PA-18-150 N4100Z

Summary

On 4 December 2010 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4100Z, operated by Keith M. Kopf, was involved in an accident near Pullman, Washington, 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

4 December 2010 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pullman, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.6600, -117.1800

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4100Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Keith M. Kopf

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pullman → Pullman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA072

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's delayed application of carburetor heat while maneuvering, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude over open, snow-covered terrain, and noticed that the engine was beginning to lose power and running roughly. The airplane was starting to lose altitude and in response, he applied the carburetor heat and added full engine power. Just as the engine started to regain power, the main landing gear broke through the crusty top layer of the snow, slowing the airplane. The propeller contacted the snow and the pilot decreased the engine power and attempted to transition to a landing. The airplane nosed over inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both left wing lift struts. According to the pilot, with the exception of the accumulation of carburetor ice, there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.