Piper PA-18-105 accident near Sheridan, Wyoming, February 6, 1998
On February 6, 1998 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-105, registered N316T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheridan, Wyoming. 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 improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Factors relating to the accident were: the carburetor icing (weather) condition, and the lack of a suitable area for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1998 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sheridan, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-105 · all PA-18-105s on the register
- Registration
- N316T · registry record · serial 18-2430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise, on a local area personal flight, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to regain power by placing the mixture to rich, applying carburetor heat, and switching fuel tanks. These procedures were ineffective, and the pilot conducted a forced landing beside a road. As the aircraft slowed during landing roll, the main landing gear dug into snow, and the aircraft nosed over. An examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence that would have prevented the engine from operating. The temperature and dew point were 39 and 34 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive to carburetor ice.
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: 194 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,734 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 26, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SHR at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from SHR
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.