What happened
Following the completion of warm-up and ground checks, the aircraft departed from an asphalt runway measuring 5,711 feet in length and 100 feet in width. During the initial climb phase, at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a loss of partial power, causing the aircraft to begin a descent.
Suspecting the presence of carburetor icing, the pilot applied carburetor heat. Several seconds after this action, the aircraft impacted the ground, coming to rest roughly 1/4-mile from the end of the runway. The pilot noted that a similar instance of partial engine power loss had occurred during flights prior to the accident, though it was considered an isolated event at the time and attributed to potential carburetor icing.
The investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a test run of the engine following the accident; however, no abnormalities were noted during this inspection.