Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nikolai, Alaska 99635
Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:45 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. He reported that he received a special VFR clearance at the departure airport, and as soon as he cleared class E airspace, the airplane started to accumulate rime ice on the wings' leading edges and windshield. He reported that three-quarters of the way to his destination the windshield was suddenly covered with rime ice, and that his destination was the closest airport. At the destination airport, he said the visibility was one-half to one mile in fog and freezing drizzle. On short final he reported that visibility was deteriorating, and he elected to go-around. He said the throttle did not respond, the engine lost power, and the airplane descended into trees. The pilot attributed the engine losing power to a combination of carburetor and induction icing. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said during the accident the airplane received damage to the right wing and lift-strut, right aileron, and right elevator. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the National Transportation Safety Board.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather (icing conditions), which resulted in a loss of engine power during a go-around. Factors contributing to the accident were icing conditions, and carburetor/induction icing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/18/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Nikolai
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99635
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 630107N
Event Location Longitude 1542131W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 563
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 163
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23088
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchoragr, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Nov 18 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2008 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N170BP
NTSB Number ANC08CA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26299
Certified Max Gross Weight 1733
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jan 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3901
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Barney A. Anselment
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City McGrath
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99627
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Richard Anselment
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City McGrath
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99627
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 PAMC
Departure City Mcgrath
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PAFS
Destination City Nikolai
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 16 2008 5:28PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --