# NTSB ANC06LA043: Taylorcraft BC12-65, N36291, Iliamna, AK, April 3, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 2006, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.733333, -155.376388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7333&lon=-155.3764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63450 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63450/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise, and an in-flight collision with snow-covered terrain. Factors associated with the accident were an unfavorable wind, and the pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during the emergency descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The certificated private pilot reported that while in cruise flight over an area of snow-covered terrain, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm. The application of carburetor heat and engine emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. The pilot said that he was unable to restore adequate engine power to maintain level flight, and he selected a snow-covered plateau as a forced landing site, which required a downwind approach due to terrain features. Just before touch down on the soft, snow-covered terrain, he said the left wing stalled and struck the ground, causing the airplane to cartwheel to the left. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. In the pilot's written report to the NTSB, he stated that weather conditions at the time of the accident were, in part: Visibility, 2 miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet broken; wind, 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots; temperature, 20 degrees F, with light snow showers and blowing snow. In the section of the form that inquires about mechanical malfunction/failure, he wrote: "Carb Icing." ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2006, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Taylorcraft BC12-65 airplane, N36291, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, about 16 miles northwest of Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private certificated pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0930, from a remote off-airport site about 40 miles southwest of Iliamna, and was en route to Iliamna when the accident occurred. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 4, the pilot related that during the flight to Iliamna, weather conditions consisted of ceilings between 600 and 800 feet, along with winds of 25 knots and blowing snow. As the flight progressed towards Iliamna, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm. He said that the application of carburetor heat and engine emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. The pilot said that he was unable to restore adequate engine power to maintain level flight, and he selected a snow-covered plateau as a forced landing site. He said that terrain features around the forced landing site required a downwind approach. Just before touch down on the soft, snow-covered terrain, he said the left wing stalled and struck the ground, causing the airplane to cartwheel to the left. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. In the pilot's written report that was submitted along with the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), dated April 25, he reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident were, in part: Visibility, 2 miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet broken; wind, 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots; temperature, 20 degrees F, with light snow showers and blowing snow. In the section of the form that inquires about and mechanical malfunction/failure, he wrote: "Carb Icing." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36291](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36291-2012-06-04), registration cancelled 2012-06-04, S/N 3209, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-65) (registry code 8850310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3209 - Airframe hours: 3129.3 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Debra Schneider & Mitchell Rausa - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 80 hours before - Departed: ILIAMNA, AK - Destination: ILI, ILIAMNA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 164 total, 100 in this make and model, 164 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 20 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 19 °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 20060403006309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060403006309A), Apr 3, 2006: Tcraft BC1265, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] departed an unnamed lake southwest of lake Iliamna, in light blowing snow. His hunting partner followed in a PA-14. At… 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.