1990-03-28: Piper PA-18-150 — Whitewater, MT

Casualties unknown • Whitewater, MT, US

Probable cause

PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE SUBSEQUENT INDUCTION ICING RELATED PARTIAL POWER LOSS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT ENCOUNTERED FREEZING FOG AND HAZE, REDUUCING THE VISIBILITY TO THREE MILES. HE TURNED BACK TO LAND BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT BUT THE ENGINE BECAME ROUGHER AND REDUCED TO PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A RIDGE IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE TAIL LIFTED AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, ELEVATOR, WINGS, COWLING AND FIREWALL WERE BENT. DURING A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY AND RAN FOR FIVE MINUTES.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-03-28 Piper PA-18-150 accident near Whitewater, MT?

THE PRIVATE PILOT ENCOUNTERED FREEZING FOG AND HAZE, REDUUCING THE VISIBILITY TO THREE MILES. HE TURNED BACK TO LAND BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT BUT THE ENGINE BECAME ROUGHER AND REDUCED TO PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A RIDGE IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. AT…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-03-28 involved a Piper PA-18-150, registration N7134K, at Whitewater, MT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE SUBSEQUENT INDUCTION ICING RELATED PARTIAL POWER LOSS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22708. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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