# NTSB WPR09CA121: Cessna 182, N4729D, Caldwell, ID, February 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 20, 2009, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, ID - Coordinates: 43.641944, -116.635833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6419&lon=-116.6358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73373/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA121 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat before reducing power and his failure to clear the engine during a prolonged glide. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072704), [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: [Cessna 182A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after a 1.5-hour pleasure flight, he entered the traffic pattern for landing. He reduced power to idle and applied carburetor heat. He turned onto the base leg and then onto final approach. The pilot noted the airplane was too low and attempted to add power, but there was no response from the engine. The airplane touched down short of the runway, impacted the airport's chain link perimeter fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he was in a glide with the power at idle for about 30 seconds and that he did not clear the engine during the glide. The reported temperature and dew point at the airport were 3 and -2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Plotting these values on a carburetor icing chart indicated the airplane was operating in conditions conductive to serious icing at descent power. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after a 1.5-hour pleasure flight, he entered the traffic pattern for landing. He reduced power to idle and applied carburetor heat. He turned onto the base leg and then onto final approach. The pilot noted the airplane was too low and attempted to add power, but there was no response from the engine. The airplane touched down short of the runway, impacted the airport's chain link perimeter fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he was in a glide with the power at idle for about 30 seconds and that he did not clear the engine during the glide. The reported temperature and dew point at the airport were 3 and -2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Plotting these values on a carburetor icing chart indicated the airplane was operating in conditions conductive to serious icing at descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4729D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4729D-2010-05-24), registration cancelled 2010-05-24, S/N 34829, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34829 - Airframe hours: 3334 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2009 - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Destination: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Airport: EUL, Caldwell Industrial Airport, runway 12, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 334 total, 207 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: EUL ## 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 20090220000969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090220000969A), Feb 20, 2009: Cessna 182A, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. 02/20/2009, 1057 LCL (MST) N4729D C-182 was on final approach to eul (Caldwell, ID). Pilot and pax report that they were too low to make the airport, pilot… 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.