What happened
A pilot/owner and a flight instructor departed on a training flight. During the flight, a witness near the accident site heard the engine making a "sputtering" noise, which he described as "missing, like the engine would stop and start."
The witness observed the aircraft flying straight and level at an altitude of approximately 50 to 100 feet above his barn. The aircraft performed a series of maneuvers, including a left turn toward a tree line, a second left turn that paralleled the tree line, and a third left turn toward a field. The aircraft then descended toward the field in a manner described as "like it was trying to land."
The airplane touched down near the end of a 7.3-acre rectangular field and subsequently struck a fence located approximately 83 feet beyond the initial touchdown point. A post-crash fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage, which included an engine teardown, revealed no mechanical malfunctions occurring prior to the impact. However, a review of the FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, using the temperature and dewpoint reported near the accident site, placed the conditions in the area indicating serious icing at glide power.