The Cessna 182 pilot was flying down a glacier near Cooper Landing, Alaska, for an extended period of time at a low power setting without the carburetor heat on.
Near the toe of the glacier, he attempted to add power to level the plane, but the engine did not respond.
He said that their altitude was low and he landed on the glacier moraine. The plane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Based on the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at descent power.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to correctly use carburetor heat, resulting in a loss of engine power and collision with terrain.
NTSB Identification: ANC14CA025
This April 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
