- Date
- May 8, 1992, 17:30 local (May 9, 1992, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2940CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19920508014029A
- Case key
- 5720
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was on the base leg for landing on the Kenai river when the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to glide to the river so he landed on a road. During the forced landing sequence the airplane struck some trees before landing on the road. Examination of the airplane and engine showed no mechanical malfunction. The pilot stated he felt it was carburetor ice which caused the power loss. He was carrying only 15 inches of manifold pressure during the maneuvering and traffic pattern and had applied carburetor heat. He did not know if the carburetor heat was operating.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2940C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30840
- Airframe hours
- 2,779
- Engine
- Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ralph Wellborn
- Registered owner
- Lowell Suydam
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 21, 1991 · 79 hours before
- Departed
- Jackoloff Bay, AK
- Destination
- Kenai River, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 299 total · 25 in this make and model · 236 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2940C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.