Piper PA-28-181 N419W

Summary

On 20 April 2023 at about 14:05 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N419W was involved in an accident near Flint Township, Michigan, 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

20 April 2023 at 14:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Flint Township, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Bishop Intl (FNT)

Coordinates

42.9636, -83.7961

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N419W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ann Arbor → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA161

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power from carburetor ice.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot planned a short cross-country flight to two different airports with a return to his original airport. Due to concerns with weather conditions in the area, the pilot requested to air traffic control to execute the option and then return to his original departure airport. While on a 1-mile final approach, about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. An attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. Unable to make the runway, the pilot executed a forced landing on a railroad track. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and engine mount. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An undetermined amount of fuel remained in the fuel tanks at the accident site. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive for serious icing at any power setting. The pilot stated that he did not apply carburetor heat during the approach. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the approach and descent, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.