What happened
The incident occurred after the pilot completed a local flight and began the approach for landing. As the aircraft neared the airport, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. The wind conditions were unstable, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots. Unable to maintain altitude or continue the approach, the aircraft impacted the ground approximately 35 feet from the approach end of Runway 27. The force of the impact caused damage to two telephone poles located near the crash site.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the aircraft's engine to determine the cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed a mechanical failure within the carburetor assembly. Specifically, the carburetor float was found to have malfunctioned. The pilot reported that the float had stuck in the open position, which allowed excessive fuel to enter the system and flooded the engine, leading to the cessation of power.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the primary factor contributing to the accident was the mechanical failure of the carburetor float. This malfunction caused the engine to flood and lose power during a critical phase of flight. The adverse weather conditions, characterized by significant wind gusts, may have complicated the pilot's ability to manage the emergency, but the root cause remained the internal engine component failure.