# Accident 20141127022349A: Piper PA-18-150, Beluga, AK, November 27, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 2014, 11:47 local time
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: LCWC
- Location: 60.8764° N, 152.0853° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8764&lon=-152.0853&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9720P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9720P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,800 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141127022349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N9720P IS A PIPER PA18 THAT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 30NM SW OF BELUGA POINT AIRPORT ON 27 NOV 2014.  THERE WERE TWO ON BOARD AN ALASKA WEST AIR, 14CFR PART 135 FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED IN THE KENAI ALASKA AREA.   N9720P WAS THE SECOND AIRCRAFT IN A FLIGHT OF TWO FLYING TO THE SAME DESTINATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUNTING MOOSE.  WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LAND OFF-AIRPORT, THE PILOT OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A TEMPERATURE INVERSION APPROXIMATELY 100 ? 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND EXPERIENCED CARBURETOR ICING.  BOTH AIRCRAFT MADE A STRAIGHT IN APPROACHES TO THE LANDING SURFACE WHICH WAS DESCRIBED AS A ?BENCH?.  DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE/LACK OF POWER THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RISING TERRAIN JUST PRIOR TO THE LANDING AREA.  UPON ENGINE DISSASEMBLY, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE AIRBOX INDICATED THE CARB HEAT WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT DUE TO SLIGHT METAL DEFORMATION THAT LOCKED THE CARB HEAT BOX IN POSITION. THE LACK OF CARB HEAT APPLICATION WAS CONFIRMED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. NO INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE ASIDE FROM SLIGHT BEARING WEAR NOTED AT THE TIME OF INTERNAL INSPECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC15LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA005), Nov 27, 2014: Piper PA 18-150 (N9720P), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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 an area conducive to carburetor icing.

## Other reports on N9720P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19780813033739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780813033739A), Aug 13, 1978: Piper PA18S125 (N9720P), Caddo Mills, TX, Substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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