What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Statesville Airport, the aircraft's left engine ceased functioning. In response to the loss of power, the pilot-in-command decreased power on the remaining right engine to manage the situation. The crew subsequently performed an emergency landing in an open field.
Although the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were no injuries reported among the four occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the failure was caused by the failure to activate anti-icing or de-icing systems before takeoff. The aircraft was operating in icing conditions, which led to the accumulation of ice within the carburetor and induction systems of the left engine. This buildup resulted in the engine failure during the early stages of flight.