What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft in conditions that required navigation around significant weather systems. During the flight, the pilot climbed over a cloud bank situated directly above an inlet flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. This cloud formation was reported to be only a few hundred feet high.
As the aircraft transitioned through a cold front, the outside air temperature gauge registered a notable drop, falling from 60 degrees to 38 degrees. After passing the initial cloud bank, the pilot reduced engine power and applied carburetor heat in an effort to descend below a second line of clouds and fog.
The aircraft leveled off at an altitude of 1,000 feet. At this point, the pilot added full power back to the engine but simultaneously turned off the carburetor heat. Approximately thirty seconds after deactivating the heat and applying full throttle, the engine quit unexpectedly.