# NTSB CEN24LA092: Piper PA22, N2513P, Dalhart, TX, January 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 11, 2024, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Dalhart, TX · About 8NM north of DHT, remote field. - Coordinates: 36.158967, -102.54813 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1590&lon=-102.5481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193680/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA092 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat in meteorological conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [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-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102210), [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: [Piper PA-22-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to descending during the cross-country flight, he activated the carburetor heat. As the pilot initiated the descent, the engine began “coughing” and was “progressively failing,” until a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot switched fuel tanks, he adjusted the mixture, and he activated the carburetor heat to no avail. During the forced landing to a remote grass field covered with snow, the airplane came to rest inverted, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported to first responders that the carburetor had “iced up.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. When the temperature and the dewpoint near the time of the accident were plotted on a carburetor icing probability graph, it was revealed that the airplane was likely operating in meteorological conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing (for both glide and cruise power settings). The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The Piper Aircraft PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer Owner’s Handbook discusses the use of carburetor heat during cruise operations and states, “unless icing conditions in the carburetor are severe, do not cruise with the carburetor heat on” and “apply full carburetor heat only for a few seconds at intervals determined by icing severity.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2513P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2513P), registered now, S/N 22-2875, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2875 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 3588.4 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 2023 - Departed: EIK, Erie, CO - Destination: DHT, Dalhart, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 11,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.41 inHg - Observed at: KDHT, 8 nm away - METAR: KDHT 111853Z AUTO 24019G29KT 10SM CLR 07/M04 A2941 RMK AO2 PK WND 23032/1835 SLP959 T00671039 ## 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 20240111000829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240111000829A), Jan 11, 2024: Piper PA-22-150, Dalhart, TX, Substantial damage. On jan. 11, 2024, a PA-22 aircraft, registered to the [privacy data omitted], made an emergency landing due to power loss, then landing gear dug into the soft… ## Other investigations on N2513P (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 CHI65D0087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65D0087), Apr 3, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N2513P), Chillicothe, OH, substantial damage 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.