Accident Overview
A pilot reported engine problems while on approach to an airport. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck a berm and tall brush, resulting in substantial damage.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident examination of the engine, conducted on the day of the accident, discovered a small amount of water in the air box around the carburetor. The routine weather report taken at 1653 indicated a temperature of 42 degrees Fahrenheit and a dewpoint of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the carburetor icing chart, these conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings.
Pilot Reports
Several other pilots flying in the area at the time of the accident reported experiencing carburetor icing, corroborating the atmospheric conditions favorable for ice formation.