Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Noblesville, Indiana 46038
Sunday, October 8, 2000 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet when the engine began to run rough. He pulled the carburetor heat on and the engine ran okay for a few seconds and then lost power. He executed a forced landing to a bean field. The pilot reported that he thought he experienced carburetor icing. The engine was tested and it ran at 800 rpm. The magnetos were checked and there was a 25 rpm drop on each magneto. All cylinders exhibited thumb compression. The 1455 surface weather observation at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) located about 22 nm southwest of the accident site indicated the temperature was 48 degrees F and the dew point was 32 degrees F. The Transport Canada "Carburetor Icing" chart indicates moderate to serious carburetor icing at 48 degrees F and 32 degree dew point.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Carburetor icing and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning by his delayed use of carburetor heat. A factor associated with the accident was the unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Noblesville
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46038
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400502N
Event Location Longitude 0860205W
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 1430 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.44
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
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) 13897
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8907X
NTSB Number CHI01LA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier 182
Aircraft Serial Number 18533072
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 Nov 30 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Harlan Frey
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18696 County Rd. 4
Aircraft Owner City Carey
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43366
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 K15
Departure City Grand Glaze
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 56D
Destination City Sandusky
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2003 12:59PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --