# NTSB ANC22LA008: Piper PA-18, N1380A, Palmer, AK, November 26, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 26, 2021, 11:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.250133, -148.58345 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2501&lon=-148.5834&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104338/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104338
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA008

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power, off-airport landing, and nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation
- [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while enroute, the airplane encountered carburetor icing, and he made a precautionary landing on an off-airport snow-covered airstrip. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1380A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1380A), registered now, S/N 18-1211, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-1211
- Year built: 1951
- Airframe hours: 11854
- Engines: Lycoming O 320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2021
- Departed: PAAQ, Palmer, AK
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 26, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 696.2 total, 624.2 as pilot in command, 13.2 in the last 90 days, 4.2 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -4 °F
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ, 25 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 261953Z 00000KT 10SM SCT037 BKN100 M18/M20 A2962 RMK AO2 SLP040 T11831200

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20211126019939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211126019939I), Nov 26, 2021: Piper PA-18, Palmer, AK, Minor damage. Investigation: the airman was conducting a personal flight sightseeing up the knik river basin. It was a clear, cold day. The pilot experienced power loss and…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104338. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13393477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot roc (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13605138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Rel.pdf
- Accident picture (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13394396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Rel.pdf

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.

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