- Date
- April 19, 2011, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Greensburg, IN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N18WYAviat A-1C-180
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 12, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-IND-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110419006249A
- Case key
- 78927
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 decision to land on the grass which contained standing water. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of power due to carburetor ice.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was practicing low approaches when he experienced a partial loss of engine power during climb out. He continued onto the downwind leg where he applied carburetor heat and determined the loss of power was a result of carburetor ice. The pilot shortened the downwind and base legs, and decided to land on the grass alongside the paved runway. He stated that the approach was high and fast and he was more comfortable landing on the grass as the airplane was equipped with tundra tires. The airplane nosed over during the landing when it contacted standing water on the grass. The right wing of the airplane was substantially damaged. A review of the FAA Carburetor Icing chart revealed the conditions were conducive to serious icing at descent power.
Factual narrative
The pilot was practicing low approaches when he experienced a partial loss of engine power during climb out. He continued onto the downwind leg where he applied carburetor heat and determined the loss of power was a result of carburetor ice. The pilot shortened the downwind and base legs, and decided to land on the grass alongside the paved runway. The pilot stated the approach was high and fast, and he was more comfortable landing on the grass as the airplane was equipped with tundra tires. The airplane nosed over during the landing when it contacted standing water on the grass. The right wing of the airplane was substantially damaged. The outside air temperature was reported as 20 degrees Celsius and the was 18 degrees Celsius. A Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicates the conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N18WY
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1C-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3038
- Airframe hours
- 258
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Todd T. Reed
- Registered owner
- Overfield LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 10, 2010
- Departed
- I34 · Greensburg, IN
- Destination
- I34 · Greensburg, IN
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- I34 · Greensburg Municipal Airport
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
- 48
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 6, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,300 total · 250 in this make and model · 3,285 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,400 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.62 inHg
- Observed at
- GEZ, 23 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 510 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.