Accident Details
A private pilot was completing a cross-country flight when, approximately 11 miles from the destination airport, the engine slowly lost power, dropping to about 1,800 RPM. The pilot applied carburetor heat, checked the fuel tanks, and advanced the throttle to full, but the engine did not respond. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing in a landfill. During the landing, the aircraft nosed over in soft terrain.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the aircraft was examined. The carburetor heat knob was found in the off position. The wing tanks contained fuel, and the fuel lines and vents were not obstructed. The engine was test-run after the accident, and no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure was found. Weather conditions at the time were conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, according to icing probability charts.