Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kenai, Alaska 99611
Friday, May 8, 1992 17:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON THE BASE LEG FOR LANDING ON THE KENAI RIVER WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE RIVER SO HE LANDED ON A ROAD. DURING THE FORCED LANDING SEQUENCE THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME TREES BEFORE LANDING ON THE ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT IT WAS CARBURETOR ICE WHICH CAUSED THE POWER LOSS. HE WAS CARRYING ONLY 15 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE DURING THE MANEUVERING AND TRAFFIC PATTERN AND HAD APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. HE DID NOT KNOW IF THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS OPERATING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone --
Event City KENAI
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99611
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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 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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 747
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48158
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2940C
NTSB Number ANC92LA068
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 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 30840
Certified Max Gross Weight 2820
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 May 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 2779
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOWELL SUYDAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address GENERAL DELIVERY
Aircraft Owner City SELCOVIA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99663
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RALPH WELLBORN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 3236
Operator City KENAI
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99611
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City JACKOLOFF BAY
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City KENAI RIVER
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --