- Date
- March 8, 2019, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Rushville, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8566DPiper PA18
- Defining event
- Enroute: Fuel related
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190308001009A
- Case key
- 99091
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 partial loss of engine power due to the accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a forced landing on rough terrain.
Findings · 2
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 reported that, during flight, the engine lost partial power. He applied carburetor heat and adjusted the mixture, but the engine did not respond. The engine continued to lose power, and the pilot conducted a forced landing on rough terrain, during which the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the temperature about the time of the accident was 30°F and that the dew point was 34°F. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at cruise or climb power settings. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had "checked for carb ice sooner."
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during flight, the engine lost partial power. He applied the carb heat and adjusted the mixture, but the engine did not respond. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot force landed on rough terrain. During landing the right wing struck the ground. Additionally, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had, "checked for carb ice sooner." He reported that the temperature about the time of the accident was 30° F, and that the dew point was 34° F. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the FAA Carburetor Ice Probability Chart, a serious icing probability existed at cruise or climb power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8566D
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-6220
- Built
- 1957
- Airframe hours
- 6,645
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 6, 2019
- Departed
- 9V5 · Rushville, NE
- Destination
- 9V5 · Rushville, NE
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Last flight review
- March 29, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 598 total · 123 in this make and model · 598 as pilot in command · 61 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Observed at
- KGRN, 25 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB 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.
Other investigations on N8566D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.