Incident Overview
A pilot reported engine trouble while attempting to return to the Catalina Airport after an over-water flight to Catalina Island. The airport is situated on a mountain top in an area characterized by steep, mountainous terrain. The aircraft was later found destroyed by fire after reports of a brush fire.
Witness Observations
A witness observed the aircraft and heard the engine repeatedly accelerate to full power, interrupted by sputtering and periods of silence. A second witness reported seeing the aircraft in a turn, attempting to gain altitude as it approached higher terrain.
Aftermath
Approximately ten minutes after the witness observations, fire department units responded to reports of a brush fire and discovered the burning wreckage of the aircraft.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the weather featured a 20-degree spread between the dew point and ambient temperature. Carburetor icing probability charts indicated that the aircraft had been operating in conditions conducive to moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at glide power.