Accident Overview
On February 9, 2014, at approximately 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 182A airplane nosed over during a forced landing while on final approach to Lexington Airfield (TE75), near Lexington, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the firewall and rudder. The flight was operated by Austin Skydiving Center under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a skydiving flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed TE75 around 1645.
Flight Details
The pilot reported climbing to about 10,000 feet, where the skydivers exited. He then began a descending spiral at 500 feet per minute, staying above the skydivers. During the descent, he reduced power and applied carburetor heat, which he removed when leveling off.
Forced Landing
While on final approach at about 1,000 feet, the pilot slowed the airplane to lower flaps. He then pushed the throttle to maintain airspeed but noticed no increase in engine power. After adjusting the throttle, he regained slight power. Switching fuel tanks resulted in no change. Applying carburetor heat caused a complete loss of engine power within seconds. The pilot observed a road and house ahead, so he turned left toward a field. During the approach, the nose gear and propeller struck a barbed wire fence, causing the airplane to nosedive and then nose over upon ground impact.
Weather and Postaccident Examination
Weather conditions recorded at Giddings-Lee County Airport (GYB), about 16 miles south, at 1655 included wind from 200 degrees at 6 knots, clear sky, visibility 10 miles, temperature 19°C (66°F), dew point 13°C (55°F), and altimeter 29.99 inHg. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicates a possibility of serious carburetor icing at glide power under these conditions. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical failure that would have caused the loss of engine power. The Cessna 182 Owner's Manual "Let-Down" checklist states to apply sufficient carburetor heat to prevent icing if icing conditions exist, and the "Before Landing" checklist states to apply carburetion heat before closing the throttle.