Piper PA-18 N4468Z

Summary

On 21 September 2007 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N4468Z was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one 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

21 September 2007 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.2233, -147.6720

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N4468Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC07LA106

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude a stall. Contributing to the accident was carburetor icing conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot was preparing to land at a remote landing site, and pushed the engine mixture control to full rich. The pilot said the engine rpm began decreasing, and the engine lost power when he moved the mixture toward its previous lean position. He indicated that there was rain in the vicinity, and the weather conditions were "ideal for carburetor icing." He said the airplane stalled from about 50 feet above the ground, and collided with the ground. The pilot reported that he did not believe there was any mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.