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NYC91LA054

1991-01-01 · WILDWOOD, New Jersey, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport WWD

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE DESCENT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

Factual narrative

THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM CRUISE ALTITUDE TO PATTERN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1000 FEET AGL. DURING THE DESCENT THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO MAINTAIN PATTERN ALTITUDE THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY LANDED IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE OAT WAS 42 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE DEW POINT WAS 26 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ACCORDING TO THE PROBABILITY OF CARBURETOR ICING CHART, THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCTIVE FOR SERIOUS ICING DURING GLIDE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_NYC91LA054.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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