What happened
The pilot attempted to land at the airport on two separate occasions. Both initial approaches resulted in go-arounds. During the second go-around attempt, the pilot failed to shut off the carburetor heat. This led to a noticeable decrease in engine performance and an inability for the aircraft to climb.
Due to the loss of performance, the pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered rough terrain, which caused the landing gear to collapse. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
The investigation
An examination of the engine was conducted following the accident. Investigators found no evidence of any mechanical malfunction occurring prior to the impact. However, the carburetor heat valve was discovered in the open position.