What happened
During civil twilight, a certified flight instructor was conducting flight instruction with a student pilot. While on approach to an unlighted, snow-covered gravel runway, the instructor realized the Cessna (type not specified in source) was not properly aligned with the runway and instructed the student to perform a go-around.
Following the command to apply full engine power and initiate the maneuver, the engine failed to respond. The instructor took control of the aircraft and confirmed that the throttle was at maximum setting. The aircraft subsequently landed in deep snow. Upon touchdown, the main and nose wheels entered the deep snow, causing the aircraft to decelerate rapidly and resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
The investigation
An FAA airworthiness inspector conducted a post-accident inspection of the aircraft. While the inspection revealed several maintenance deficiencies, investigators found no specific issues that would have accounted for the loss of engine power during the maneuver.