Sikeston Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sikeston, Missouri 63801
Tuesady, April 9, 1996 17:00 CDT

The pilot said he reduced power opposite the approach end of the runway. After retarding the throttle, he applied carburetor heat. The pilot said he made a shallow banked turn onto base leg after the airplane had decelerated from 90 to 70 KIAS. The airplane's propeller stopped rotating as the pilot made a shallow banked turn onto final approach. The pilot made a forced landing about 2,000 feet short of the runway. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The pilot said that he normally flew an airplane with a fuel injected engine that did not have carburetor heat. During a discussion with the IIC, the pilot said the engine may have stopped because of carburetor ice. He said he could not recall how much time had elapsed between the time he reduced power and applied carburetor heat. The before landing checklist in the pilot operating handbook stated: 'Mixture--Rich, Carburetor Heat-- Apply full heat before closing throttle.' About 20 miles north-northeast at Cape Girardeau, Mo, the temperature and dew point were 56 and 23 degrees, respectively. An icing probibility chart showed that the potential for carburetor icing existed during gliding or cruise flight.

The pilot's delay in applying carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: carburetor icing (weather) conditions, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in the make and model of airplane.