Cessna 140 accident near North Pole, Alaska, September 15, 2004
On September 15, 2004 at about 2:20 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N1629V, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Pole, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2004 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N1629V · no longer on the register · serial 13801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that during initial climb from a private airstrip, the engine started running rough, losing power, and then quit. He said he checked the throttle and the fuel selector when the engine started to run rough, but did not apply carburetor heat because he knew he would lose engine rpm with the carburetor heat on. When the engine lost all power, he did not have enough altitude to turn back to the runway, or reach a suitable landing site, and he elected to fly the airplane straight ahead, into trees. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the flight. The nearest official weather reporting station was about 15 miles northwest of the accident site. The METAR at 1755 reported 4 miles visibility in light rain, temperature and dew point were both 36 degrees F, and the ceiling was 400 feet broken, 1000 feet overcast. At the accident site, the pilot estimated a 600 foot ceiling, 3 miles visibility, and both temperature and dew point at 36 degrees F. A carburetor icing probability chart is included in the docket of this report. It depicts the potential for carburetor icing at various temperature and dew point combinations. Using the temperature and dew point of 36 F and 36 F, respectively, the chart indicates there is a potential for serious carburetor icing at cruise and climb power settings. FAA Advisory circular 61-23C, Chapter 2, Carburetor Icing, states, in part: "...if the temperature is between -7C (20F) and 21C (70F), with visible moisture or high humidity, the pilot should be constantly on the alert for carburetor ice. During low or closed throttle setting, an engine is particularly susceptible to carburetor icing." The engine was recovered to a maintenance facility, and placed on an engine test stand. The engine and propeller did not require any repair as a result of the accident. The engine was started and run through various power settings. No mechanical anomalies were found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2004; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: North Pole AK
- Destination: North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from PAEI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.