# NTSB ANC25LA022: Piper PA-18-150, N3798Z, Anchor Point, AK, February 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 28, 2025, 11:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Anchor Point, AK · Gravel road - Coordinates: 59.79466, -151.84684 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7947&lon=-151.8468&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 199804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199804/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199804 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA022 ## 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. ## 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 equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he increased the engine throttle during cruise flight, the engine rpm lagged, and he heard the engine “stutter.” He applied full carburetor heat, and the engine rpm dropped over 600 rpm, and it sounded like it was going to quit. He closed off the carburetor heat immediately and began to circle an airport in case of an engine failure. The pilot began to slowly add carburetor heat in small increments to melt the ice from the carburetor. After about five minutes of slowly adding carburetor heat, he determined that the carburetor ice had all melted off and the engine was operating normally. After determining the engine was running properly, he continued towards his destination. He periodically applied full carburetor heat for 30 to 60 seconds at a time. About two miles from his destination the pilot applied carburetor heat, and the engine began to again “stutter.” The pilot again slowly increased the carburetor heat to gradually melt the ice buildup in the carburetor. The engine continued “sputtering” and running very rough and then lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine twice to no avail. The pilot trimmed the airplane for the best rate of glide and began looking for a place for an emergency landing. The pilot made a forced landing to a short narrow gravel road surrounded by tall spruce trees and alders. During the landing rollout a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right and the right wing impacted a spruce tree. The plane spun 180 degrees and came to rest into trees sustaining substantial damage to both wings. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3798Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3798Z), registered now, S/N 18-7493, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7493 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 4671 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A213 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2024, 16 hours before - Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Destination: PAHO, Homer, AK - Airport: AK00, Anchor River Airpark - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700.75 total, 407.1 in this make and model, 664.15 as pilot in command, 35.75 in the last 90 days, 11.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.34 inHg - Observed at: PAHO, 14 nm away - METAR: PAHO 282053Z 06010KT 10SM FEW033 OVC046 07/04 A2934 RMK AO2 RAB38E52 SLP934 P0000 60001 T00670039 53006 ## 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 20250228001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250228001299A), Feb 28, 2025: Piper PA18, Anchor Point, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot returning from anchorage to homer. Weather was sunny with a slight tailwind. Aircraft encountered what the pilot believed to be carb ice. Engaged carb… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199804. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18439879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA022%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18439889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA022%20photos-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.