Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Freeland, Washington 98249
Monday, August 9, 1999 13:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while en route to Everett at 1,800 feet above sea level he noticed a degradation of engine RPM and attempted to correct for the condition without success. Application of carburetor heat merely aggravated the RPM loss and, unable to maintain altitude, he maneuvered the aircraft to a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence and then a ditch during which the nose gear assembly separated from the airframe. Post-crash examination revealed no evidence of airframe, fuel or engine malfunction. Estimated ambient air temperature (19 degrees C.) and dew point temperature (14 degrees C.) at the aircraft's cruise altitude were consistent with moderate carburetor icing conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's improper use of carburetor heat and overload of the nose gear assembly during the forced landing. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions, the ditch and fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FREELAND
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98249
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 104
Weather Observation Facility ID PAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1018
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1545
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2492R
NTSB Number SEA99LA136
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 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier 182G
Aircraft Serial Number 18255592
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Apr 21 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 3143
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FOSTER, CHARLES, P.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3797 FORT BELLINGHAM ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BELLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98225
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 No
Departure Airport Code 0S9
Departure City PORT TOWNSEND
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1335
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PAE
Destination City EVERETT
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
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 --