What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed willow enroute to Talkeetna.
Pilot stated that he experienced what appeared to be carb icing.
Pilot stated that the engine was running a little rough.
Pilot added full carb heat and engine cleared up.
Pilot cycled carb heat into engine several times as he flew to Talkeetna.
Five miles out from Talkeetna Airport pilot started to make his descent and he added full carb heat.
After about a mile pilot stated that the engine stopped.
Pilot stated that he tried to start the engine and it would not start.
Pilot switched to right and left tanks and back to both. Pilot then pumped primer, engine would still not start.
Pilot made the decision to land on a sandbar in the susitna river.
On approach to the sand bar just before touchdown pilot saw a cottonwood log covered with snow in his path.
Pilot was unable to avoid the log and left main landing gear struck the log causing the left main landing gear to collapse.
Pilot stated that he maintained directional control and the aircraft came to a stop.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED WILLOW ENROUTE TO TALKEETNA.
PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARED TO BE CARB ICING.
PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH.
PILOT ADDED FULL CARB HEAT AND ENGINE CLEARED UP.
PILOT CYCLED CARB HEAT INTO ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES AS HE FLEW TO TALKEETNA.
FIVE MILES OUT FROM TALKEETNA AIRPORT PILOT STARTED TO MAKE HIS DESCENT AND HE ADDED FULL CARB HEAT.
AFTER ABOUT A MILE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED.
PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START.
PILOT SWITCHED TO RIGHT AND LEFT TANKS AND BACK TO BOTH. PILOT THEN PUMPED PRIMER, ENGINE WOULD STILL NOT START.
PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO LAND ON A SANDBAR IN THE SUSITNA RIVER.
ON APPROACH TO THE SAND BAR JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN PILOT SAW A COTTONWOOD LOG COVERED WITH SNOW IN HIS PATH.
PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE LOG AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE LOG CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE.
PILOT STATED THAT HE MAINTAINED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N5188H · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.