Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Paxson, Alaska 99737
Monday, September 1, 1997 14:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was departing from the 3,500 feet msl airstrip in what the pilot described as 'optimum carb ice conditions' of 40 degrees F with 'lots of moisture.' The carburetor heat control was 'off' for takeoff. At 50 feet above ground level on climb out, the pilot applied carburetor heat and 'the engine died.' She deselected carburetor heat, the engine began to run rough, and the airplane began to lose altitude. When the pilot began a left turn to avoid trees, the left wing and nose dropped, and the airplane impacted terrain. The electric stall warning had been disconnected.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat during a takeoff in carburetor icing conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's decision to operate the airplane with known deficiencies (a disabled stall warning horn), an inadvertent stall, and the presence of carburetor icing conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone --
Event City PAXSON
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99737
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3500
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 3000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1442
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4520C
NTSB Number ANC97LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier 170B
Aircraft Serial Number 25464
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 7 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 2780
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANIEL A. BROKAW
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 312
Aircraft Owner City GIRDWOOD
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99587
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ERIN K. BASHAW
Operator Same as Owner? No
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1444
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AQY
Destination City GIRDWOOD
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 18
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --