Incident Overview
According to the pilot's account, the aircraft was established on a base leg for runway 15 when the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to align with an adjacent road and continued for a forced landing. During the descent, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the power loss by checking the carburetor heat, mixture, throttle, and magnetos.
Forced Landing and Damage
While approaching the road, the pilot observed car lights and reported that he "swerved into [the] tree." The airplane became lodged in the tree, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the engine and related systems revealed no anomalies. The engine was inspected and found to be capable of normal operation.
Weather and Carburetor Icing Conditions
The routine aviation weather report recorded a temperature of minus 1 degrees Celsius and a dewpoint of minus 5 degrees Celsius. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, these conditions were conducive to "serious icing at glide power" and "serious icing at cruise power."
Conclusion
The investigation did not identify a mechanical cause for the power loss. The presence of carburetor icing conditions was noted, but no direct linkage to the engine failure was established in the source material.