Piper PA-28-180 N8376W accident near Riverside, California

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during an extended ground delay before takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor ice.

NTSB analysis

The pilot completed the airplane’s engine run-up and carburetor heat function checks with no anomalies noted. He then taxied to the runway and experienced an extended ground delay with the engine running at idle engine power settings. He did not use carburetor heat during the ground delay or during takeoff. About 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), during the initial climb, the engine lost all power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field ahead of the airplane’s position and subsequently struck terrain.

Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide (idle) engine power settings. It is likely that during the post run-up taxi and ground delay, a period during which the engine would typically be operating at low or idle power settings, carburetor ice formed that resulted in a total loss of engine power during the initial climb.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR23LA156 for the full record.