Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a practice flight near his ranch airstrip when the aircraft experienced a loss of engine RPM and power approximately 20 minutes after takeoff. The pilot reported that takeoff was made through 'light' fog. As the power loss began, full carburetor heat and full throttle were applied but failed to restore or maintain engine power.
Forced Landing
The pilot selected a snow-covered stubble field for a forced landing. Upon touchdown, the main landing gear encountered approximately 12 inches of crusted snow, causing the aircraft to nose over.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection performed by an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) mechanic found no evidence to explain the reported loss of RPM. An engine run was conducted, and the engine performed normally, with no anomalies detected.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, the outside surface air temperature was reported as 0°F, and the dewpoint was -4°F. These conditions are favorable for carburetor icing, though the source does not explicitly attribute the power loss to this phenomenon.
Aircraft and Pilot
The source identifies the pilot as a student pilot. No aircraft type, registration, or additional pilot details are provided. The flight was conducted near the pilot's ranch strip, but no further location specifics are given.
No injuries or fatalities are mentioned in the source.