Cessna 182 N9114W

Summary

On 3 September 2021 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N9114W, operated by Paper Plane LLC, was involved in an accident near Delta, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

3 September 2021 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.7729, -108.0764

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N9114W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1961

Engines

1

Operator

Paper Plane LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA404

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power that resulted in a forced landing and subsequent noseover. The reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the commercial skydiving operation was completing the 8th flight of the day. During the jump run, the pilot had partial carburetor heat applied. The skydivers egressed from the airplane, and the pilot initiated the descent to land back at the airport by reducing the power and applying full carburetor heat. She maneuvered the airplane onto the final approach and applied full power with no response from the engine. The pilot then manipulated the throttle to no avail and performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane came to rest inverted and was recovered a week later from the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident engine run was performed with no anomalies noted. During the recovery operation, 1 quart of fuel was recovered from the airplane, and both fuel tanks were found intact. On the airplane make and model, it is possible for fuel to drain out through the left-wing fuel tank vent tube if the airplane is sitting inverted for a period of time. A review of meteorological data showed that at the time of the accident, the airplane was likely operating in conditions conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing for glide power settings; however, the pilot reported using carburetor heat during the descent. The airframe manufacturer has published guidance stating that with certain flight maneuvers, such as prolonged uncoordinated flight or sideslips, the fuel may move away from the fuel tank supply outlet and if the outlet becomes uncovered, fuel flow to the engine may be interrupted and a temporary loss of engine power may result. Based on the available evidence, it could not be determined what caused the total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.