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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 11, 1998 · Piper PA-18-150 · N3391Z

Kenai, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 11, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kenai, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N3391Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC99LA013

The private pilot was attempting to land on a remote sand bar. He reported that as the airplane touched down, he determined that the landing area was too short to complete a safe landing, and he attempted to abort the landing. As the throttle was advanced, the engine quit, and that he was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the sand bar. The airplane went down an embankment, entered a river, and nosed over. The pilot related that he did not use carburetor heat during the aborted landing, and that carburetor ice was the reason for the loss in power. He added that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and the right wing lift strut.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. A factor associated with the accident was weather conducive to carburetor icing.

Full Narrative

On November 11, 1998, about 1400 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3391Z, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located about 29 miles northwest of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on November 19, 1998, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a remote sand bar. He reported that as the airplane touched down, he determined that the landing area was too short to complete a safe landing, and he attempted to abort the landing. He reported that as the throttle was advanced, the engine quit, and that he was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the sand bar. The airplane went down an embankment, entered a river, and nosed over. The pilot related that he did not use carburetor heat during the aborted landing, and that carburetor ice was the reason for the loss in power. He added that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and the right wing lift strut.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 AKST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN3391Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data