What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft departed glenwood Springs, Colorado may 8, 2008 en route to boulder, Colorado airport. The aircraft was on an IFR flight plan flying at 16,000 feet in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions. According to passenger privacy data omitted the aircraft was flying in the clouds with slight precipitation/snow, and the outside temperature was 20 degrees fahrenheit. The aircraft then dropped 500 to 1,000 feet in turbulence and the aircraft engine started to having problems. He stated that the pilot said the engine was having problems with the carburator mixture at approximately 15,000 feet. He noticed the pilot trying to adjust the carburetor mixture and transferring the fuel selector to the other tank. privacy data omitted Noticed that both fuel tanks had plenty of fuel in them, and transferring the fuel selector to the other tank made no difference to the operation of the engine. During the examination of the aircraft wreckage, the carburetor heat control was in the "off" position and there was some ice in the carburetor venturi. The aircraft engine will be re-examined when the engine is brought to denver for further investigation. No further action at this time.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO MAY 8, 2008 EN ROUTE TO BOULDER, COLORADO AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FLYING AT 16,000 FEET IN IMC (INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN THE CLOUDS WITH SLIGHT PRECIPITATION/SNOW, AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED 500 TO 1,000 FEET IN TURBULENCE AND THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED TO HAVING PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURATOR MIXTURE AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 FEET. HE NOTICED THE PILOT TRYING TO ADJUST THE CARBURETOR MIXTURE AND TRANSFERRING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTICED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS HAD PLENTY OF FUEL IN THEM, AND TRANSFERRING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS IN THE "OFF" POSITION AND THERE WAS SOME ICE IN THE CARBURETOR VENTURI. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WILL BE RE-EXAMINED WHEN THE ENGINE IS BROUGHT TO DENVER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NO FURTHER ACTION AT THIS TIME.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.