Background
A pilot took off for a local personal pleasure flight without ascertaining the temperature-dew point spread. The conditions at the time were conducive to serious carburetor icing at climb, cruise, or glide power.
Flight Details
During the 10 minutes he flew around the local area with the engine set to a full-rich cruise power setting, the pilot did not activate the carburetor heat to check for ice accumulation in the carburetor throat. Upon returning to the airport to enter the VFR pattern, he reduced the throttle to idle and simultaneously applied the carburetor heat. After turning final and pushing the throttle forward to add power, he discovered that the engine had quit.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident teardown inspection of the engine and carburetor established that fuel was present in those systems. There was no evidence of any malfunction or anomaly that would have contributed to a loss of power.