Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-236 near Dorrington, CA — 2010-10-23

Final reportWPR11LA025
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Date
2010-10-23
Location
Dorrington, CA, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-236
Registration
N228KK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat while cruising in carburetor icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while the airplane was level at 15,000 feet in instrument meteorological conditions, he failed to apply carburetor heat to the engine. After several minutes, the engine began losing power, and the airplane was not able to sustain flight. During the descent for a forced landing in mountainous terrain, the airplane descended below the cloud base about 2,000 feet above the ground, and the pilot observed a road and a clearing. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted trees, which severed its wings. Icing probability charts indicated that carburetor ice was probable under the atmospheric conditions in which the airplane had been flying. The pilot reported that if he had applied the carburetor heat during flight, the accident likely would not have occurred.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not initially think of turning on the carburetor heat.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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