# NTSB ANC04LA106: Cessna 180A, N5304D, Kasiloff, AK, September 12, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2004, 20:15 local (Sep 12, 2004, 04:15 UTC) - Place: Kasiloff, AK - Coordinates: 60.333332, -150.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3333&lon=-150.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60114/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA106 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control which resulted in carburetor ice and the loss of engine power. A factor associated with the accident was the carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The private pilot reported he was flying his single engine float-equipped airplane at low level in carburetor icing conditions with the carburetor heat approximately 60% "on." He said he applied power to climb, but the engine would not initially respond, and then ran rough. He applied all the carburetor heat, but the engine "choked" and lost more power. He made a forced landing in a nearby swamp, and the airplane nosed over. After the airplane was removed from the swamp, the pilot said the airplane's engine started and ran fine. The pilot noted in his report to the NTSB that the accident could have been prevented by the early detection of carburetor ice, and application of carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2004, about 2015 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180A airplane, N5304D, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing when it collided with terrain and nosed over following a partial loss of engine power. The accident site is near Windy Lake, about 22 miles east of Kasiloff, Alaska. The private pilot/airplane owner, and the sole passenger, were not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight originated about 1800 from the pilot's residence, and operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB dated September 16, he reported that the purpose of the flight was to look for potential moose hunting sites. He related that he initiated a low pass over a lake to see if it was suitable for landing. During the low pass, he noted that the carburetor heat was about 60% "on." After deciding the lake had potential as a landing site, he applied power to gain altitude, but the engine did not respond, and then it ran rough. He suspected carburetor ice, and pulled the carburetor heat control full on. At that point, the engine "choked," and started to die. The pilot indicated that they were then about 2 miles from the lake, about 200 feet above the ground. He did not believe he could return to the lake for a forced landing, and elected to land in a nearby swamp. While landing, the airplane's floats dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over, receiving structural damage to the vertical stabilizer and wing spars. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor ice. He noted that once the airplane was recovered from the swamp, the engine started and ran fine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5304D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5304D), registered now, S/N 50202, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180A - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 180-50202 - Airframe hours: 6936 - Engines: Continental O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steve W. Bilben - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2004, 54 hours before - Departed: Kasiloff, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 15, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040911024939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040911024939A), Sep 11, 2004: Cessna 180A, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 11, 2004, at approximately 20:15 Alaska standard time, N5304D, a Cessna 180A aircraft on edo 2870 floats, piloted by steve bilben, a private… 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. --- 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.