# Conducive to carburetor icing - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Temp/humidity/pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030310) › Conducive to carburetor icing - NTSB code: 03031030 - Cases: 435 - In the probable cause: 357 - Fatal cases: 44 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 20 / 22 - 2009: 14 / 21 - 2010: 20 / 24 - 2011: 20 / 29 - 2012: 26 / 36 - 2013: 15 / 19 - 2014: 16 / 24 - 2015: 22 / 31 - 2016: 22 / 27 - 2017: 15 / 21 - 2018: 31 / 31 - 2019: 19 / 20 - 2020: 26 / 26 - 2021: 20 / 24 - 2022: 16 / 22 - 2023: 21 / 23 - 2024: 25 / 26 - 2025: 8 / 8 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 134 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 121 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 120 cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 12 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 11 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 8 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 6 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 4 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 4 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 3 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 15 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 10 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 9 cases - [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m): 9 cases - [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 8 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 7 cases - [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l): 7 cases - [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f): 7 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 6 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 6 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020) (Aircraft): 101 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 91 cases - [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 87 cases - [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 48 cases - [Fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322) (Aircraft): 45 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 40 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 32 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 31 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 31 cases - [Engine (reciprocating), general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500) (Aircraft): 29 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA211), Jun 1, 2026: Piper PA-28-235 (N15291), Montevideo, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power on approach due to carburetor icing. - [NTSB ERA26LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA079), Dec 27, 2025: Cessna 140 (N89884), Ceres, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to recognize and mitigate carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing. - [NTSB ANC25LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA112), Sep 22, 2025: Cessna 172 (N4282F), Yakataga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in meteorological conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. - [NTSB WPR25LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA175), Jun 13, 2025: Cessna 182P (N78720), Hyampom, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and a subsequent impact with terrain during a forced landing. - [NTSB ERA25LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA189), Apr 26, 2025: Champion 7GCBC (N9117L), Weyers Cave, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power on approach due to carburetor ice. - [NTSB ANC25LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA026), Mar 20, 2025: Aeronca 7CCM (N2527B), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s inadequate use of carburetor heat. - [NTSB ANC25LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA022), Feb 28, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N3798Z), Anchor Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A complete loss of engine power as a result of carburetor ice due to the pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice. - [NTSB ERA25LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA127), Feb 22, 2025: Cessna 172 (N781FM), Mayo, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power at low altitude due to an accumulation of carburetor ice while in a cruise-power descent, which resulted in a forced landing. - [NTSB WPR25LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA092), Feb 9, 2025: Piper PA-28-235 (N8535N), Shafter, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing was the student pilot and flight instructors’ failure to utilize carburetor heat. - [NTSB ERA25LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA047), Nov 18, 2024: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (N55464), Huntington, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat while operating the engine at low power and in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a total loss of engine power… NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.