Accident Details
At approximately 0955 Eastern Daylight Time, a pilot departed from Schenectady, New York, with 24 gallons of fuel on board. Approximately two and a half hours later, while maneuvering on a downwind leg to land at Dunkirk, New York, the pilot applied carburetor heat. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The pilot shut off the carburetor heat and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful.
Forced Landing and Damage
During the subsequent forced landing in a field, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose gear, lower cowling, and horizontal stabilizer.
Pilot's Report
The pilot stated that he should have checked the fuel tanks while at altitude and switched the fuel selector to the fullest tank.