Piper PA18 N5907Y

Summary

On 30 September 2018 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N5907Y was involved in an accident near Delta Junction, 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

30 September 2018 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.6106, -144.6169

Aircraft

Piper PA18

Registration

N5907Y

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delta Junction → Delta Junction

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18LA080

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, which resulted from the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating at low power settings in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while maneuvering the airplane in mountainous terrain, he reduced engine power and initiated a descent; the engine then began to cough and run roughly. He applied full throttle, and the engine subsequently lost total power. In an attempt to restore power, he applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks while initiating an emergency descent. The engine restarted; however, it continued to run roughly and would not develop full power. He continued the emergency descent and landed the airplane on a mountain ridge. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine, which included an engine test run, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, an airplane operating in the ambient conditions at the accident site could expect carburetor icing while at cruise power and at glide power. It is likely that, when the pilot reduced engine power for the descent, carburetor ice formed and resulted in the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.