Forced Landing After Engine Power Loss During VFR Cross-Country Flight (N9431D)

Incident Overview A private rated student pilot and a certified flight instructor were conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight when the engine lost power approximately four minutes after the student pilot began a descent from a cruising altitude of 6,500 feet. The incident occurred about twenty miles from the intended destination. A forced landing was executed in a field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a ditch that separated the field in which the pilot landed from an adjacent field. After the aircraft was removed from the field, the engine was started and ran without any problems. ## Environmental Conditions The weather conditions at the time were favorable for carburetor icing, with a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.