Incident Overview
Two miles north of the destination airport, while cruising at 2500 feet, the pilot observed a drop in engine rpm followed by a complete loss of engine power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful.
Forced Landing
The pilot selected a forced landing area. During maneuvering for the emergency landing, the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest in a freshly plowed field.
Post-Accident Examination
On-site examination of the wreckage revealed a substantial amount of fuel in the fuel tanks. No aircraft system malfunctions or component failures were identified during the on-site or follow-up examination of the engine assembly.
Weather and Carburetor Heat
The pilot recalled that the outside air temperature at 2500 feet was 25 degrees. A review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility, located 30 miles south of the accident site, reported a temperature of 40 degrees. Carburetor heat had last been used approximately 45 minutes before the loss of engine power, and the carburetor heat lever was in the cold position when the engine lost power. A review of weather data did not disclose conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.