‘Carburetor icing’ may have caused plane crash, finds inquiry

A PLANE crash at Raharney in Co Westmeath may have been caused by a loss of engine power resulting from “carburetor icing”, an inquiry has found.

Instructor Joseph McCabe, 38, from Lucan and student instructor Kevin Ryan, 38, from Clontarf, both experienced pilots, died when the plane crashed into a field just before 9am on May 29, 2006.

A report published yesterday by the Air Accident Investigations Unit (AAIU) found that the plane suffered a loss of flying speed at low altitude, stalled and spiralled to the ground. The flight left Weston Aerodrome in Co Dublin at 8.20am.