Swanson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eatonville, Washington 98328
Thursday, May 30, 2013 17:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that when he was 35 miles from his destination he reduced power to descend from 6,500 feet to 3,000 feet, and applied carburetor heat. When he added power to level off at 3,000 feet, the engine rpm stabilized between 1,800 to 2,000 rpm. The pilot stated that he suspected carburetor ice and applied carburetor heat again, but the engine did not regain full power. He diverted to a nearby airport and entered the pattern for the northern runway. During the landing sequence he determined that he was landing long. He applied power to perform a go-around, however, the engine only accelerated to 1,500 - 1,600 rpm. As he flew the airplane into a left turn to avoid trees the airplane stalled, entered a descent, and impacted a house. The carburetor icing chart indicated the possibility of serious carburetor icing at the reported temperatures. The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A) states that first indication of carburetor ice in an airplane with a fixed-pitch propeller is a decrease in engine rpm. Additionally, it states that when conditions are conductive to carburetor icing that carburetor heat should be applied immediately and should be left ON until the pilot is certain all the ice has been removed. If ice is present applying partial heat or leaving heat on for an insufficient time might aggravate the situation. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Eatonville
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98328
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465218N
Event Location Longitude 1221526W
Event Location Airport Swanson Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K2W3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 843
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 715 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID KTCM
Elevation of weather observation facility 322
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31538
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2013 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7701T
NTSB Number WPR13CA252
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 47301
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
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 Mar 21 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3403
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name REID MATTHEW J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NIPOMO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93444-8966
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name REID MATTHEW J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NIPOMO
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93444-8966
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 KEUG
Departure City Eugene
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KRNT
Destination City Renton
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2013 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2990
Runway Width 36
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --