Event Description
A student pilot was on the second leg of a cross-country flight when the engine lost power. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing in a plowed field covered with snow. After approximately 60 feet of ground roll, the aircraft nosed over.
Pilot Accounts
The student pilot reported that the engine began running rough until he applied carburetor heat, at which point the engine smoothed out. He stated that he then turned off the carburetor heat, and approximately one minute later the engine quit entirely. However, another pilot reported hearing the student transmit that he was going down and that he was either out of fuel or experiencing fuel starvation.
Post-Accident Examination
Two individuals examined the aircraft after the accident. They found no fuel in the aircraft and observed no evidence that fuel had leaked onto the snow-covered terrain. Additionally, the aircraft had not been refueled during the first stop of the cross-country flight.