Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing and his failure to apply carburetor heat that resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing at cruise flight.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 2, 1996, at 1550 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182P, N7355S, collided with trees during an attempted emergency landing to Flagler County Airport in Bunnell, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Bunnell, Florida, at 1530 hours.
Reportedly, the flight was returning to Flagler County Airport when the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. According to the pilot, he attempted to restart the engine several times, but failed. The pilot reported that the carburetor heat was applied during the restart attempts, but there was no report by the pilot of the application of carburetor heat prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane collided with trees one mile east of the Flagler County Airport.
The examination of the engine assembly, after the accident, failed to disclose a mechanical problem. A review of weather data at the approximate time of the accident disclosed that conditions were favorable formation of carburetor icing (see attached icing probability curves).
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL96LA075