# NTSB SEA91LA036: Beech D35, N2911B, Cedar City, UT, December 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1990, 18:15 local (Dec 20, 1990, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT
- Coordinates: 37.390205, -113.629257 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3902&lon=-113.6293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41377
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41377/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA036

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION, AND A BLOCKED INDUCTION AIR FILTER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - ice fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - induction air control,air filter/screen - blocked(total) (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS AND EVENTUALLY LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN IMC WITH VISIBLE SNOW AND ICE CRYSTALS. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE AT NIGHT IN AN OPEN/ROUGH FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. DURING A POST CRASH ENGINE INSPECTION, ICE WAS FOUND ABOVE THE THROTTLE VALVE AND BELOW THE DISCHARGE NOZZLE IN THE CENTER OF THE CARBURETOR THROAT AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CARBURETOR WAS EQUIPPED WITH ALTERNATE AIR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2911B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2911B-2011-01-10), registration cancelled 2011-01-10, S/N D-3555, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D35
- Registry model: [Beech D35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (registry code 1151510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-3555
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ferguson, Michael D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: HLN, HELENA, MT
- Destination: SGU, ST GEORGE, UT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 6,212 total, 2,815 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.29 inHg
- Observed at: CDC, 10 nm away

## 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 19901219055199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901219055199A), Dec 19, 1990: Beech D35, Cedar City, UT, Destroyed. Engine lost power in IFR. Crash landed. Two layer air filter blocked by ice. Carburetor jets iced.

## Other investigations on N2911B (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 DEN69F0156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69F0156), Nov 12, 1968: Beech D35 (N2911B), Broomfield, CO, 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.

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