Cessna 182A accident near Emmett, Idaho, August 2, 2011
On August 2, 2011 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N6399B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Emmett, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing because the pilot did not use carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2011 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Emmett, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N6399B · no longer on the register · serial 34299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he fueled the tanks to their full capacity with a mixture of 100LL and automobile gas prior to departing. During the return flight, as the pilot descended to the destination airport, the engine lost power and the pilot force-landed the airplane in a field. A postaccident examination revealed fuel in the right wing, but the fuel line from the left wing to the fuel selector had separated during the accident, allowing the remaining fuel in the left tank to drain out. Examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious icing at glide power at the time of the accident. The pilot did not apply carburetor heat until after the engine power was lost. An airplane user's group reported that the specific make/model airplane is susceptible to developing carburetor ice and the use of automobile gas also increases the likelihood of 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,034 hours in all; 408 in this make and model; 1,883 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-L16B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S92 Fish Lake Usfs ID at 3:00 pm
- Destination: S78 Emmett ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from KEUL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.