Piper PA-22-20 accident near Isle Au Haut, Maine, February 15, 1992
On February 15, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-20, registered N36142, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isle Au Haut, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL SYSTEM ICING AND CONTAMINATION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Isle Au Haut, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-20 · all PA-22-20s on the register
- Registration
- N36142 · no longer on the register · serial 3121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM AN ICE COVERED LAKE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A TURN TO AVOID GOING INTO THE OCEAN AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE ONTO THE ICE. THE PILOT SAID HE USED CARBURETOR HEAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED 'WATER STILL REMAINING IN THE GAS BOWL AND ALSO IN THE CARBURETOR...AND DEAD BUG DEBRIS FROM THE FUEL LINE ELBOW.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 98B Belfast ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.