What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route on an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance during nighttime operations. Although visual meteorological conditions prevailed, the pilot reported that the engine suffered a partial loss of power. At the time of the event, the aircraft's fuel tanks were confirmed to be full. In response to the performance issue, the pilot applied carburetor heat, but this action did not restore normal engine operation.
Air traffic control vectored the aircraft toward the nearest airport for an emergency landing. However, before reaching the runway, the aircraft impacted a tree and subsequently crashed into an open field. The accident site was located approximately four miles short of the destination airport.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the aircraft and the sequence of events leading to the crash. Key findings included the confirmation that the fuel tanks were full at the time of the power loss, ruling out fuel exhaustion as a primary cause. The application of carburetor heat was noted but determined to be ineffective in resolving the partial power loss.
Findings
The aircraft's inability to maintain power despite adequate fuel supplies and corrective actions by the pilot contributed to the outcome. The proximity to the airport suggests that the failure occurred during the final approach phase, though the specific mechanical cause of the partial power loss was not detailed in the provided source material beyond the ineffectiveness of carburetor heat.