PIPER PA-19

Full Narrative

On September 19, 2008, about 1845 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-19 airplane, N3267Y, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, about 15 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, personal flight when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and sole passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the pilot's private airstrip, Wasilla, Alaska, about 1815.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 20, the pilot reported that he planned to fly over his intended landing site to inspect the area before landing. He said that after completing the low pass over the site, and as he advanced the throttle to climb, all engine power was lost, and he selected an area of rough terrain at the departure end of the site as a forced landing area. During the forced landing, the left wing collided with an area of gravel-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that carburetor heat was applied during the descent and approach, while maintaining 1,500 engine rpm.

The closest official weather observation station is located at the Palmer Airport, about 15 miles northwest of the accident site. At 1846, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 7,000 feet overcast; temperature, 45 degrees F; dew point, 41 degrees F; altimeter, 29.49 inHg.

When the temperature and dew point are entered into a carburetor icing probability chart, the result is in the "Serious icing-cruise or climb power" category.

On September 23, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office traveled to the pilot's private airstrip in Wasilla, and examined the airplane after it was recovered. The inspector reported that he was unable to find any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.