Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Bend, Oregon 97459
Tuesady, March 11, 1997 18:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NORTH BEND
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97459
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 338
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 11 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26848
NTSB Number SEA97LA069
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gulfstream American
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5A
Aircraft Serial Number 0763
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2348
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOUGLAS J. FAWVER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10021 TUJUNGA CANYON BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City TUJUNGA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91042
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OTH
Departure City
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 620
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2Q3
Destination City YOLO COUNTY
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --