Moth DH60GM N919DH

Summary

On 8 August 2019 at about 01:45 local time, a Moth DH60GM registered N919DH was involved in an accident near Cortez, Colorado, United States. 2 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

8 August 2019 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Cortez, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.3402, -108.2893

Aircraft

Moth DH60GM

Registration

N919DH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1929

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mancos → Cortez

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19LA260

2 people had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice accumulation, which resulted in a loss of altitude and impact with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, he reduced engine power to about 1,800 rpm and continued along a valley in a shallow climb. As the airplane approached a ridge, he turned the airplane back toward the valley and felt a “subtle sluggishness” of the airplane during the turn. He applied carburetor heat; however, it did not appear to have an effect, and he turned the carburetor heat off after about 20 seconds. The pilot continued toward an area of rising terrain because the engine was running smoothly and, he believed, producing enough power to return to the departure airport. The airplane descended and impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. The recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at a glide power setting. Based on the available information, it is likely that the airplane lost partial power due to the accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a gradual descent and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.