What happened
During a flight involving a pilot and one passenger, the crew performed preflight procedures in extremely cold temperatures. Due to the freezing conditions, a preheater was utilized to prepare the engine. After starting the engine, the pilot applied carburetor heat for approximately three to four minutes.
The taxi process to the runway was difficult, as the aircraft had to navigate through banks of ice and snow. This required the engine to be shut down and restarted several times. Following takeoff, the engine lost power at an altitude of approximately 300 feet above the ground. In an attempt to manage the loss of power, the pilot tried to turn the aircraft toward a golf course for an emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep left bank and stalled, subsequently impacting snow-covered terrain. There were no reported fatalities.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine if mechanical issues contributed to the power loss. The investigation revealed no mechanical malfunctions within the engine or airframe, though several sparkplugs were found to exhibit sooting.