Introduction
An incident occurred shortly after an airplane departed Runway 28 at Princeton Airport. The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power at approximately 800 feet above ground level.
Incident Details
According to the pilot, he executed a right turn and attempted to land in a cleared field adjacent to the departure end of Runway 28. As the airplane approached ground level, the pilot banked left to avoid a large tree in front of the right wing. During this maneuver, the left wing tip, left main landing gear, and nose of the airplane contacted the ground.
Findings
Atmospheric conditions at the time were conducive to carburetor ice formation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that the airplane's engine had been removed from the aircraft prior to their arrival at the accident site. No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, or occupant status were provided in the source.