Amateur-built PRECEPTOR ULTRA PUP accident near Mabel, Minnesota, May 17, 2014
On May 17, 2014 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built PRECEPTOR ULTRA PUP, registered N1171Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Mabel, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2014 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mabel, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PRECEPTOR ULTRA PUP, built 1997
- Registration
- N1171Q · registry record · serial KLC001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had recently purchased an airplane and was ferrying it to his home airport. During the first leg of the trip, he reported that the engine's rpm decreased two or three times from 3,200 to 2,800 rpm. The engine regained power shortly after the pilot applied carburetor heat. Shortly after departure on the second leg of the trip, the pilot felt a vibration in the engine, so he applied carburetor heat; however, the engine lost power and the airplane collided with trees in a wooded area. An examination of the engine did not reveal a reason for the power loss. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor icing at glide power settings and light carburetor icing at cruise power. Because the airplane was being operated in an area of potential carburetor icing, and no anomalies could be found during postaccident testing, the engine likely lost power due to carburetor icing. However, the investigation was not able to determine that earlier application of carburetor heat would have prevented the loss of power.
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
- Fuel related during enroute
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,750 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 24, 2014
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 869 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 29, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Great Plans Aircraft 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCHU Caledonia MN
- Destination: KMHE Mitchell SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from KLSE, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 CEN14LA244.