NTSB CAROL · Event
Event MIA89LA084
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Factual narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 500 FT ABOVE THE AIRPORT, THE PLT REPORTED THE ENG GRADUALLY LOST POWER. UNABLE TO LAND BACK AT THE ARPT, THE ACFT WAS DITCHED. AFTER RECOVERY & REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETOS, WIRING HARNESSES, & PLUGS, THE ENG RAN WITH NO ABNORMALITIES. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE OFF/COLD POSITION. TEMP WAS REPORTED AS 78 DEG F AND DEWPOINT WAS 69 DEG F. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1989_MIA89LA084.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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