Accident Sequence
The accident occurred on a skydiving flight after the parachutists had been dropped. While descending with the engine at idle power, the powerplant ceased to produce thrust. The pilot was forced to land away from the airport, and during this landing, the airplane hit a fence. The aircraft came to rest before reaching the intended runway. The total flight time from takeoff to the accident was approximately 15 minutes.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, he had not applied carburetor heat during the descent before the power loss. He also stated that the fuel on board at takeoff was 10 gallons. The pilot did not verify whether atmospheric conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.
Engine Examination
A post-accident inspection of the engine found no evidence of any mechanical defect or failure that would have contributed to the power loss before the accident.