Sanderson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Matlock, Washington 98560
Thursday, January 24, 2013 15:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that during his first solo cross-country flight, the weather started to deteriorate. He descended to a lower altitude to avoid clouds and proceeded toward the nearest airport. However, when he tried to level off at the lower altitude, the airplane continued to descend at a rate of about 700 feet per minute. The pilot applied full engine power and ensured that the throttle was positioned for full power, the mixture was full rich, and the fuel selector was on both fuel tanks. The airplane continued to descend, so the pilot elected to land on a nearby road. While on the base leg for the landing, the pilot applied carburetor heat. During the landing flare, the left wing struck a road sign; the airplane departed the road and came to rest inverted about 20 feet from the road. A postaccident examination and engine run revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive for serious icing at cruise power settings. It is likely that the student pilot's delayed action in applying carburetor heat resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power after a descent to a lower altitude due to the student pilot's delayed action in applying carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Matlock
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98560
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 472426N
Event Location Longitude 1234120W
Event Location Airport Sanderson Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SHN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 11
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 273
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID SHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 273
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 4200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KSHN 242353Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM -RA FEW017 BKN042 O
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) 32027
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2013 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18690
NTSB Number WPR13LA101
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15074044
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 12 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5574
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Andrew Hansen
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Gig Harbor
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98332
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Andrew Hansen
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Gig Harbor
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98332
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HQM
Departure City Hoquiam
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PWT
Destination City Bremerton
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2013 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --