Accident Overview
On February 27, 2015, about 1200 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, registration N2122K, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Jacksonville, Florida. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Jacksonville Navy Flying Club under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the solo cross-country instructional flight. The flight departed Lake City Gateway Airport (LCQ), Lake City, Florida, at 1130 and was destined for Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
Pilot Report
The student pilot reported that he was returning from a solo cross-country flight and had just completed a cross-check of the instruments when the engine began to "sputter" and lose power. He checked the fuel quantity and noted that the fuel tanks indicated three-quarters full. He performed the emergency checklist but stated, "I went through the checklist so fast that I do not recall if I was actually able to do all of the items." The engine then experienced a total loss of power, and attempts to restart it were unsuccessful. After determining that the airplane could not reach the closest airport, the pilot executed a forced landing in a pasture.
Damage and Recovery
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. During recovery, it was noted that the left fuel tank contained approximately 18 gallons of fuel, while the right fuel tank was breached and void of fuel.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The engine sustained minor damage and was test-run. The engine was secured to a stationary surface with fuel supplied to the carburetor fuel line. The engine started and ran "smoothly" without assistance from the auxiliary fuel pump. It was shut down and restarted, running normally on the second attempt. During the test run at idle (1,000 rpm), oil pressure was normal, but oil temperature did not register. Throttle was increased to 1,500 rpm; the engine continued to run normally, oil pressure remained normal, but oil temperature still did not register. A magneto check showed a drop of 50-75 rpm on each magneto. A carburetor heat check at 1,500 rpm resulted in a 50-rpm decrease. The engine returned to idle and ran normally. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Maintenance and Pilot Experience
The airplane had been operated for about 70 hours since its most recent annual inspection, performed on December 18, 2014. The student pilot reported 81 hours of total flight experience, including about 25 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions reported at an airport located about 30 nautical miles west of the accident site at 1155 included a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 3 degrees Celsius. According to an FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the reported temperature and dew point were conducive to carburetor icing during cruise flight at the time of the accident.