Walker Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Creswell, Oregon 97426
Sunday, November 14, 2004 14:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power, followed a few seconds later by a total loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an approach to a landing straight ahead, but obstructions in his path necessitated a left turn to an open pasture. In his turn toward the pasture the pilot noticed several cows in his path, requiring him to turn further left to avoid them at a low altitude, resulting in a loss of airspeed and a subsequent stall. The aircraft impacted terrain with its left wing, coming to rest in an upright position. FAA inspectors were unable to confirm flight control continuity, but were able to confirm continuity through the engine drive train. The pilot reported to the inspectors that the engine was not equipped with a carburetor heat system and that he suspected carburetor ice. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and the temperature/dew point in which the airplane was operating, a "serious icing" probability could have existed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Carburetor icing and the failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident included the lack of a carburetor heat system and the probability of carburetor ice.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Creswell
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97426
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 435207N
Event Location Longitude 1230202W
Event Location Airport Walker Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OR57
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 580
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID EUG
Elevation of weather observation facility 369
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10420
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17644
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Nov 14 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1508
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80AH
NTSB Number SEA05LA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Hannah
Aircraft Model Avid Amphibian
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 80A
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3.8
Airframe Hours 161
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Daniel O. Cathey Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cottage Grove
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97424
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code OR57
Departure City Cottage Grove
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 1743
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --