FTW98LA177

The pilot said he made several turns in preparation to returning to the airport to perform some touch-and-go landings. At 6,500 feet msl, the engine lost power, and efforts to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilot attempted to land on a road, but the airplane struck a mesquite bush and nosed over. Later, the engine was functionally tested, and it operated normally. The pilot surmised that the engine had lost power due to carburetor ice. Thirty-four minutes before the accident, the temperature and dew point at El Paso International Airport (elevation 3,956 feet), located approximately 30 miles southeast, was 9 degrees and -3 degrees C. (48.2 and 26.6 degrees F.), respectively. According to the carburetor icing probability charts, these conditions were conducive to serious icing at glide power, and approached a moderate icing realm at cruise power.

On April 8, 1988, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182E, N3086Y, operated by Mesilla Valley Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing 6 miles south of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The private pilot in command and flight instructor-rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Las Cruces approximately 15 minutes before the mishap.

Information from the FAA indicates the airplane had received scheduled maintenance, and the pilot was checking for proper operating parameters. According to the pilot's accident report, he had made several turns in preparation to returning to the airport to perform some touch and go landings. At 6,500 feet msl, the engine lost power, and efforts to restore power were to no avail. He attempted to land on a road, but struck a mesquite bush and the airplane nosed over.

The engine was functionally tested on May 7, 1998, at the facilities of Mesilla Valley Aviation, Inc., Las Cruces, New Mexico. The engine operated successfully, but full power could not be achieved due to a broken engine mount. It was the opinion of those in attendance, and that of the pilot's, that the engine lost power due to carburetor ice.

Thirty-four minutes before the accident, the temperature and dew point at El Paso, Texas, International Airport (elevation 3,956 feet msl), located approximately 30 miles southeast, was 9 degrees and -3 degrees C. (48.2 and 26.6 degrees F.), respectively. According to the Carburetor Ice Probability Chart, these conditions are conducive to serious icing at glide power, and it approaches a moderate icing realm at cruise power.