What happened
During cruise flight, the aircraft's engine began losing power while operating in ambient weather conditions consisting of a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 7 degrees Celsius. These conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.
In an attempt to resolve the power loss, the pilot switched fuel tanks; however, the pilot did not apply carburetor heat. This resulted in the eventual loss of all engine power. The pilot subsequently attempted a forced landing in a nearby field. During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered soft, muddy terrain. The motion caused the aircraft to rock from side to side with enough amplitude that the wingtips made contact with the ground.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the engine was conducted. The investigation found no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the engine from operating correctly under non-icing conditions.