Accident Details
According to the pilot's report, during flight the engine began to run roughly and subsequently lost power. The pilot elected to land in a small field that was surrounded by trees. While approaching to land, the aircraft encountered windshear, which increased the rate of descent. As a result, the aircraft's wheels hit trees before the plane reached the field, then the nose pitched down and the aircraft impacted the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination revealed that the gascolator was approximately two-thirds full of ice, and water was found in the flow divider. The pilot stated that the aircraft had been placed in a heated hangar before the flight and that during his preflight inspection, he had drained the sumps until he observed no water in the fuel.