Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Weston, Idaho, April 23, 1994
On April 23, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N3344E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weston, Idaho. 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. FACTORS INCLUDE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND NO SUITABLE SITE FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weston, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N3344E · no longer on the register · serial 2454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING IN SERIOUS ICING ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, THE FUEL/AIR FLOW IN THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTOR BECAME RESTRICTED BY ICE BUILD-UP, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, TURNED ON THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION/MAGNETO SWITCH, BUT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. BEING UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
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: 922 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 870 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 83 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1993; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGU Logan UT at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N3344E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.