MEADVILLE, PA, USA
N96286
CESSNA 172Q
PLTS WERE BRIEFED ON SNOWSTORM ADVANCING TOWARD DESTINATION, DEPARTED IN HOPE OF ARRIVING AHEAD OF WX. ENCOUNTING IMC CONDITIONS (SNOW) ENROUTE, PLT FILED IFR AND CONTINUED. COMMUNICATIONS TRANSCRIPT INDICATES THAT WHEN ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, PLT USED CARB HEAT TO REMEDY, ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS NOT CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE. POWER WAS REGAINED. THEN LOST TOTALLY, PARTIALLY REGAINED, THEN LOST FINALLY AND TOTALLY DURING EMERGENCY DESCENT. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT DURING APPARENT LANDING ATTEMPT IN OPEN FIELD IN SNOWSTORM, RIGHT WINGTOP MADE INITIAL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AND ACFT CARTWHEELED TO A STOP, SUSTAINING OTHER DAMAGE. COCKPIT SHOWED RIGHT-TO-LEFT OCCUPANT CONTACT WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL. ENG INDUCTION AIR FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE TOTALLY BLOCKED WITH IMPACTED SNOW. IMPACTED SNOW AND ICE FOUND BETWEEN COLLING FINS OF #1 AND #2 CYLINDERS AND CARB HEAT INTAKE, AS WELL AS AROUND STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BELTS AND OTHER ENG FWD EEXTERIOR SURFACES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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