What happened
The flight involved a non-certificated pilot preparing for landing at an uncontrolled, remote airstrip. During the final approach, the pilot adjusted the engine mixture control to the full rich position. Shortly thereafter, the engine revolutions per minute began to drop, and power was completely lost when the pilot attempted to move the mixture lever back toward its previous lean setting.
The pilot noted that rain was present in the area and described the weather conditions as ideal for carburetor icing. As the aircraft descended from approximately 50 feet above the ground, it entered a stall condition and subsequently collided with the terrain.
The investigation
Following the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events. He explicitly stated that he did not believe any mechanical malfunction had occurred within the aircraft systems prior to the loss of power.