Boeing A75N1(PT17) N55464 accident near Huntington, West Virginia

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat while operating the engine at low power and in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB analysis

While in level flight, the pilot reduced engine power to slow his airplane while waiting for a second airplane to catch up. He reported that the engine power was reduced for an extended period of time before the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot attempted to land the airplane in a railroad yard; however, the empennage contacted a tree and forced the nose of the airplane down into the soft terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower right wing, fuselage, and engine mount.

A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

In an interview with the pilot, he stated that he may have encountered carburetor icing as a result of the extended reduced engine power setting. He also stated that he had not applied carburetor heat while operating at reduced power. A review of the carburetor ice probability chart showed that the atmospheric conditions were conducive to the development of serious icing at glide power at the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA047 for the full record.