What happened
According to the pilot seated in the left position, the engine began to sputter while operating at 2200 RPM before eventually quitting. The pilot selected a field for an emergency landing; however, wires were obstructing the chosen area. The aircraft passed underneath most of the obstructions but clipped one service electric line upon contact.
Following the impact, the aircraft landed and rolled approximately 75 feet before nosing over into the mud. At the time of the incident, the ambient temperature was recorded at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, flight service had reported several incidents of carburetor icing on that day, suggesting environmental conditions may have contributed to the engine failure.
The investigation
The pilot's account indicates that the aircraft sustained damage from striking a service electric line during the forced landing sequence. The subsequent rollover into muddy terrain resulted in the nose-over position. No mechanical examination details were provided in the source text beyond the pilot's narrative of the event.
Findings
Contributing factors included the obstruction of the selected landing field by wires and the reported prevalence of carburetor icing conditions on the day of the incident. The engine failure occurred at a specific RPM setting, followed immediately by contact with overhead utilities.