Incident Details
On October 13, 2018, about 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 120 airplane, N1881N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Lupton, Colorado. The pilot and passenger both sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated by a private individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to a statement provided by the pilot, while attempting to land on runway 33 at Platte Valley Airpark (18V), Hudson, Colorado, the pilot noticed a strong crosswind and decided to go around. During the go-around, the pilot added engine power, but the engine did not develop full power. The engine began to sputter and surge as the airplane continued to climb. The engine did not regain power, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane settled into a cornfield and nosed over.
Engine Examination
The airplane was transported to a salvage facility and the engine set up for a functional test run. The engine started without hesitation and ran at idle power without incident. Damage to the engine and propeller prevented testing the maximum power setting.
Carburetor Icing and Fuel Recovery
A review of carburetor icing probability chart found that the airplane was not operating in an area at the edge of having the potential for icing at a glide power setting. During recovery of the airplane, about 7 gallons of fuel was recovered from both tanks.