# NTSB CEN22LA094: Cessna 182C, N8816T, Port Aransas, TX, January 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 1, 2022, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Port Aransas, TX - Coordinates: 27.808258, -97.08233 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8083&lon=-97.0823&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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA094 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s failure to utilize 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 equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 182C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was returning to land after dropping a load of skydivers at 10,000 ft above mean sea level, and that he did not apply carburetor heat during the descent. He reduced the throttle to idle when he entered an extended based leg of the traffic pattern. The approach path was low, so the pilot increased the throttle, but the engine did not respond. He completed steps to troubleshoot the loss of power, but he did not apply the carburetor heat. The pilot made a forced landing to a marshy area; the airplane impacted uneven terrain and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide power. Given the evidence, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated, which resulted in the inability to increase engine power during the final approach. 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8816T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8816T-2022-12-24), registration cancelled 2022-12-24, S/N 52716, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52716 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 5680 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470L-50 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Safesix Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Safesix Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 15, 2021 - Airport: RAS, Mustang Beach, runway 12, 3,482 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 254 total, 17 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: KTFP, 9 nm away - METAR: KTFP 011815Z AUTO 22008KT 10SM CLR 30/22 A2969 RMK AO2 T03040216 ## 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 20220101000149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220101000149A), Jan 1, 2022: Cessna 182C, Port Aransas, TX, Substantial damage. On January 1, 2022, at approximately 17:00 local, aircraft N8816T, a Cessna 182C, s/n: 52716 took off from Mustang Beach Airport (kras) with 1 pilot and 1… ## Other investigations on N8816T (2) 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 FTW70DQD02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70DQD02), Jan 31, 1970: Cessna 182C (N8816T), Ft.Stockton, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X0453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0453), Feb 3, 1964: Cessna 182 (N8816T), Trinidad, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104496. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13165939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20esigned_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - NTSB and FAA emails (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13166091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20exam%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13166350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - FAA safety document - flying for skydive operations P-8740-62 (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13170156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flying%20for%20Skydive%20Operations%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13213858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-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.