What happened
The accident occurred when the aircraft experienced an unexpected loss of engine power while executing a go-around maneuver. This event took place immediately following a prolonged power-off glide. During that initial phase of flight, carburetor heat was not applied to the engine system.
Following the loss of power, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a soft, cultivated field. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel dug into the ground surface. The force of this impact caused the aircraft to pitch forward violently, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
The investigation
Investigation of the weather conditions at the time of the accident revealed that the environment was conducive to carburetor icing. Despite these known risks, the certified flight instructor (CFI) operating the aircraft did not obtain a formal weather briefing prior to departure. This omission left the crew unaware of the specific icing hazards present in the area.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the failure to use carburetor heat during conditions known to support ice formation. The lack of a pre-flight weather briefing prevented the identification of these hazardous atmospheric conditions before the flight began.