Incident Summary
While arriving at the original destination airport, the pilot-in-command decided to divert to a nearby alternate airport due to confusion regarding runway conditions at the original destination. En route to the alternate, the pilot erroneously lined up with a military airport located approximately 10 miles southwest of the intended landing site.
Emergency Landing
Upon arrival at the wrong field, the pilot reported being too high and initiated descending turns with a low power setting. When he added power to stop the descent, the engine quit abruptly. An emergency landing was attempted on a boulder-strewn field. During the landing, the landing gear was sheared off, and the aircraft struck a cow. The cow prevented the aircraft from careening down a ravine.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the engine and fuel system failed to reveal any malfunction or mechanical problems. Meteorological conditions at the time were conducive to carburetor icing according to carburetor icing probability charts.