Cessna 182 N6474A

Summary

On 30 September 1998 at about 09:45 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N6474A was involved in an accident near Wheatfield, Indiana, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 1998 at 09:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wheatfield, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Flying J (PVT)

Coordinates

41.5302, -86.9002

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N6474A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kokomo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CHI98LA365

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat when the engine lost power. Factors associated with the accident were the carburetor icing conditions which prevailed, the low altitude at which the loss of power occurred, and the soybean crop in which the airplane was landed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported the engine lost power during the initial takeoff climb at an altitude of about 130 feet agl. He made an emergency landing in a soybean field during which the nose gear collapsed. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The temp/dewpoint reported at South Bend, Indiana, 46 miles northeast of the accident site were both 59 degrees F. This temperature/dewpoint combination is conducive for serious icing at cruise power. The pilot reported he inadvertently applied the cabin heat instead of the carburetor heat when the loss of power occurred.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.