Piper PA-18A 150 N2774P

Summary

On 29 December 2023 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-18A 150 registered N2774P was involved in an accident near Vermillion, South Dakota, United States. 2 people were 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

29 December 2023 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Vermillion, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Harold Davidson Field Airport (MVR)

Coordinates

42.7688, -96.9412

Aircraft

Piper PA-18A 150

Registration

N2774P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA076

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s encounter with carburetor icing during landing final approach which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane was on final approach for landing at the destination airport when the engine lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a flat snow-covered field short of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over and sustained damage to the left forward lift strut. During the recovery of the airplane, snow discoloration consistent with fuel staining was observed around the area of the fuel caps. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed fuel was present in the fuel lines, and no mechanical anomaly or failure was identified that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide power. Although the pilot stated that he used carburetor heat from power reduction on downwind, he turned it off during the base leg. Thus, carburetor icing likely formed during final descent for landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.