Piper J3C-65 N1474N

Summary

On 10 September 1995 at about 14:30 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N1474N was involved in an accident near Mooresville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 September 1995 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mooresville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.5710, -80.8097

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N1474N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Huntersville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95LA167

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat resulting in the formation of carburetor ice and subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that engine power decreased smoothly in cruise flight, at a power setting of 2100 RPM. The carburetor heat was applied for about one minute, then removed. He slowed the airplane down and executed an intentional stall into the trees. The weather at the time of the accident was favorable for the formation of carburetor ice, and the pilot said that he did not receive a weather briefing. Later, the pilot stated that he believed that carburetor ice had formed because during the engine teardown there was a lot of moisture in the carburetor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.