# NTSB ANC24LA084: Cessna 182B, N2728B, Hawi, HI, August 28, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 28, 2024, 10:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Hawi, HI - Coordinates: 20.264898, -155.85176 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.2649&lon=-155.8518&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 195028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA084 ## Probable cause The airplane’s loss of engine power due to carburetor ice that formed during a long descent, contributing to the outcome is the pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after dropping skydivers, he began a spiraling descent from 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl) to return to the Upolo Airport (PHUP) in Hawi, Hawaii. As the airplane descended to an altitude of about 300 ft agl (Above Ground Level), the pilot increased the throttle, but the engine did not respond. He completed steps to troubleshoot the loss of power, but power was not established. The pilot made a forced landing in a field about a mile west of the airport; the airplane encountered uneven terrain, the nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine compartment. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found in the fuel tanks and carburetor. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide (idle) engine power. Although the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat, it is likely that the ice had already accumulated to the degree that the carburetor heat was insufficient to melt the ice and restore full engine power. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane’s engine is highly susceptible to ice formation during a descent and the use of carburetor heat is recommended. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2024, about 1050 Hawaii-Aleutian Standard time (HST), a Cessna 182B airplane, N2728B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hawi, Hawaii. The pilot sustained minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving flight. The pilot reported that, after dropping skydivers, he began a spiraling descent from 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl) to return to the Upolo Airport (PHUP) in Hawi, Hawaii. The pilot said he reduced the throttle to idle, added 20° of flaps, and after a few seconds, applied full carburetor heat and slowly increased the engine mixture. As the airplane descended to an altitude of about 300 ft agl (Above Ground Level), he confirmed the mixture was full rich, the propeller was full forward, and the carburetor heat was full on. As he increased the throttle, the engine did not respond, he completed steps to troubleshoot the loss of power, however power was not established. The pilot made a forced landing in a field about a mile west of the airport; the airplane encountered uneven terrain and the nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine compartment. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The gascolator contained 100LL aviation fuel and when fuel was sumped from the airplane’s tanks only a trace amount of water was present. The closest official weather reporting station to the accident location was at Upolu Airport (PHUP), Hawi, Hawaii, located about ¼ mile east of the accident site at an elevation of 107 ft. The airport had a non-official automated weather observing system that did not issue any long-term observations. A weather observation recorded at Kailua/Kona Keahole Airport (PHKO), located about 34 miles south at 1053 HST listed the temperature of 84°F and the dew point of 71°F. The Carburetor Ice Probability Chart in the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 showed a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power, with a relative humidity of 81 percent. The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C) states in part: Carburetor ice is most likely to occur when temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or 21 degrees Celsius (°C) and the relative humidity is above 80 percent. Due to the sudden cooling that takes place in the carburetor, icing can occur even in outside air temperatures as high as 100 °F (38 °C) and humidity as low as 50 percent. Whenever the throttle is closed during flight, the engine cools rapidly and vaporization of the fuel is less complete than if the engine is warm. Also, in this condition, the engine is more susceptible to carburetor icing. If carburetor icing conditions are suspected and closed-throttle operation anticipated, adjust the carburetor heat to the full ON position beforeclosing the throttle and leave it on during the closed-throttle operation. The heat aids in vaporizing the fuel and helps prevent the formation of carburetor ice. Periodically, open the throttle smoothly for a few seconds to keep the engine warm; otherwise, the carburetor heater may not provide enough heat to prevent icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2728B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2728B), registered now, S/N 52028, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182B - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52028 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3792 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Big Island Gravity, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PHUP, Upolu - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,097 total, 15 in this make and model, 912 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: AWC, 1 nm away ## 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 20240828013509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240828013509A), Aug 28, 2024: Cessna 182B, Hawi, HI, Substantial damage. On August 28, 2024, the pilot was conducting a skydiving operation in a C182. After successfully dropping the skydivers at an altitude of 8,500 feet, the pilot… ## Other investigations on N2728B (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX06CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA010), Oct 15, 2005: Cessna 182B (N2728B), Mokelumne Hill, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. A related factor was gusty wind conditions. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195028. 450 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17833484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC24LA084_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18903392&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20-Rel.pdf - Engine exam (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17832400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA084%20Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 15 pages, 446 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17832032&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA084%20maintenance%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17611628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA084%20Investigative%20Photographs-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. --- 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.