Piper PA-18-150 accident near Salem, Oregon, May 9, 1999
On May 9, 1999 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N7483L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Oregon. 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 decision not to apply carburetor heat during a reduced power descent in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. Factors include weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing, and high vegetation and a fence post in the area where the forced landing was attempted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1999 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7483L · registry record · serial 18-7509075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who had been cleared for a straight-in approach, began a reduced-power descent from approximately 2000 feet above ground level (AGL) while about five miles from the runway. About half way through the descent, the pilot retarded the throttle to idle but did not apply carburetor heat. When he reached 400 feet AGL, the pilot realized he was getting too low on the approach, so he pushed the throttle forward in order to add power and arrest his descent. Upon moving the throttle forward, the engine did not respond. The pilot then applied full carburetor heat, but he could not get the engine to restart. It was ultimately determined that his descent had been made under conditions where severe carburetor icing could be expected at glide power. Although the PA-18 Owners Handbook did not call for the use of carburetor heat during all approaches, it did require it when '... icing conditions prevail.'
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 753 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 641 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1999; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLE at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from KSE, 1 miles away
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.