Accident Details
The pilot reported that the airplane's engine began to run rough during level flight with about a 70 percent power setting. The pilot switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to run rough. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a cornfield during night light conditions.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examinations of the airplane revealed that the firewall was bent/buckled. No anomalies were found with regard to the airplane, engine, or systems during the postaccident examinations.
Weather Conditions
A weather report for the destination airport recorded the temperature and dew point as 18 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius respectively. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin entitled Carburetor Icing Prevention, the temperature and dew point were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing.