Westerly State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westerly, Rhode Island 02891
Saturday, August 2, 2008 10:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A Cessna 182L experienced a loss of power approximately 1,200 feet above sea level while 2 miles from its destination airport. The pilot had just applied carburetor heat while entering the base leg of the airport traffic pattern when the loss of power occurred. The pilot attempted to restore power but was unable. After determining that he would not be able to glide to the runway, he ditched the airplane in a river. Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the wing was substantially damaged and that there was nesting material and the remains of a rodent in the inlet of the carburetor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of power due to a partial blockage of the air induction system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Westerly
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02891
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412059N
Event Location Longitude 0714812W
Event Location Airport Westerly State Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WST
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 81
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID WST
Elevation of weather observation facility 81
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.74
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 Docket Number (internal use) 24468
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2009 8:23AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston, MA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42366
NTSB Number NYC08CA268
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18258987
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Feb 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6.2
Airframe Hours 3870.32
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Danny J. Hall
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Torrington
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06790
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Danny J. Hall
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Torrington
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06790
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 4B9
Departure City Simsbury
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code WST
Destination City Westerly
Destination State RI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - turn to base
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2008 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07
Runway Length 4010
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --