Event Details
During the flight, the pilot reduced engine power and initiated a descent to 2,000 feet. When he attempted to apply power again, he noticed the engine RPM beginning to decrease. He selected carburetor heat, hoping to resolve the issue, but the RPM continued to drop. Faced with a loss of engine power, the pilot landed the airplane in trees.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot attributed the power loss to carburetor ice. He remarked that after five years of flying in a desert environment, he had become unaccustomed to the conditions that lead to carburetor icing.
Meteorological Information
The FAA's published chart for conditions favoring carburetor ice formation indicated that the temperature and dew point at the time were within a range that could cause serious icing at cruise power settings.
Pilot Background
The pilot's flight experience in the PA-12, the aircraft involved, amounted to 1.5 hours total.