Piper PA-18-150 accident near King Cove, Alaska, February 11, 2010
On February 11, 2010 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N278Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near King Cove, Alaska. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2010 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- King Cove, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N278Z · registry record · serial 18-8109030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was doing aerial surveillance on a federal public use flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was flying at a reduced airspeed and engine rpm without using carburetor heat, and that when he further reduced the rpm the engine lost power. He said he immediately added carburetor heat, full throttle, and full rich mixture. He said that some power was restored, but the engine then quit. Unable to restart the engine, he concentrated on landing the airplane on a rough and uneven road. During the landing roll he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ran into a ditch where both wings struck the ground. The pilot said that prior to the loss of engine power there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. During a subsequent engine run the engine started and ran normally. The carburetor was removed and sent to a maintenance shop where it was determined that the carburetor functioned normally, and all wear was within the serviceable limits. A carburetor icing chart showed that the operating conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any power setting.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,492 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 22 in the last 30 days; 7,299 as pilot in command; 681 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PACD Cold Bay AK at 7:45 pm
- Destination: PACD Cold Bay AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 28.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PACD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC10TA017.