Piper PA-25-235 N8843L

Summary

On 3 June 2023 at about 14:00 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N8843L, operated by Polries Larry J, was involved in an accident near Carrington, North Dakota, 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 June 2023 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Carrington, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

47.4430, -99.1428

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-235

Registration

N8843L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Polries Larry J

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carrington → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA233

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power as a result of carburetor ice that formed while the engine was operating at a low power setting for an extended period of time before departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after engine start, taxi, and run-up, he remained on the ground about 10 minutes at idle power waiting for a rise in oil temperature and reduction in oil pressure since it was the first flight of the day, and the engine was cold. Shortly after departure while turning onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a gravel road. During landing, the airplane impacted a drainage ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. A review of meteorological information revealed that the airplane was operating in an environment conducive to serious carburetor icing at a glide power setting. During a postaccident examination, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were discovered that would have precluded normal operation. With no anomalies noted from the postaccident examination and the weather conditions present at the time of the accident, it is likely that carburetor ice formed during the extended ground run at idle power while the pilot waited for the oil temperature to rise.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.