# NTSB SEA97LA069: Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26848, North Bend, OR, March 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 1997, 18:30 local (Mar 12, 1997, 02:30 UTC) - Place: North Bend, OR - Coordinates: 43.48056, -124.159004 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4806&lon=-124.1590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42571/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to perform the proper remedial action of applying carburetor heat/alternate induction air after impact ice accumulated on his aircraft's induction air filter. Factors include intentional flight into known adverse weather (icing conditions), ice formation on the induction air filter and the resultant restriction of the induction air flow, and a body of water at the location where the pilot had to attempt an emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - induction air control,air filter/screen - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - ram/induction air - restricted (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, emergency landing - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot flew into forecast icing conditions, where structural ice accumulated on the induction air filter and partially blocked the flow of induction air. He failed to apply carburetor heat, which would have bypassed the obstructed filter, and therefore the aircraft lost power and the pilot had to ditch the aircraft in the waters of Coos Bay. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 1997, approximately 1830 Pacific standard time, the pilot of a Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26848, ditched his aircraft in the waters of Coos Bay, near North Bend, Oregon. The instrument rated private pilot was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed North Bend Municipal Airport about 10 minutes earlier, was en route to Yolo County Airport, California at the time of the accident. The pilot was on an IFR flight plan, and had received a weather briefing prior to departure. According to the pilot, after departing North Bend Airport, he was in visual meteorological conditions until entering clouds about 3,000 feet MSL. As the aircraft climbed through 6,000 feet, it began to pick up structural ice, followed by a significant reduction in engine power. Being unable to climb, or even maintain his present altitude, the pilot elected to return to North Bend Airport. Although the pilot tried to reach the airport, the loss of power caused him to execute an emergency landing in the waters of Coos Bay. A review of the audio tape of the weather briefing the pilot received from the flight service station prior to departure revealed that the freezing-level was forecast to be around 6,000 feet or a little lower, and that moderate rime or mixed icing was forecast in the clouds and precipitation. The briefer also informed the pilot that an aircraft which departed out of North Bend prior to the time of the briefing had reported the tops of the overcast at 12,000 to 13,000 feet. During a post-accident interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he had not used carburetor heat during the climb. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26848](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26848-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N AA5A0763, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gulfstream American AA-5A - Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5a) (registry code 3970104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0763 - Airframe hours: 2348 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas J. Fawver - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 1996, 40 hours before - Departed: OTH, OR - Destination: 2Q3, YOLO COUNTY, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 654 total, 81 in this make and model, 537 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast ## 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 19970312002859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970312002859A), Mar 12, 1997: Gulstm AA5A, Winters/Davis/W, CA, Substantial damage. Climbed into clouds. Began getting icing. Lost power. Unable return 2Q3 ditched in coos bay. Failed use carb heat. 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.