What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)While in cruise flight at 4,500 feet MSL, the engine started running rough. In order to keep the engine running smoothly the pilot had to continually reduce engine power, and at some point he added carburetor heat. With insufficient power to make an airport, the pilot made a forced landing to a grass strip. After touchdown, the airplane contacted several wire fences that crossed the strip, and entered a creek bed. The accident conditions were conducive for serious icing with glide power, and moderate icing with cruise power. No pre-impact failures or malfunction were identified with either the engine or the airframe. An engine run was preformed with the engine attached to the airframe. It started and ran smoothly.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING SMOOTHLY THE PILOT HAD TO CONTINUALLY REDUCE ENGINE POWER, AND AT SOME POINT HE ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT. WITH INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MAKE AN AIRPORT, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO A GRASS STRIP. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED SEVERAL WIRE FENCES THAT CROSSED THE STRIP, AND ENTERED A CREEK BED. THE ACCIDENT CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR SERIOUS ICING WITH GLIDE POWER, AND MODERATE ICING WITH CRUISE POWER. NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTION WERE IDENTIFIED WITH EITHER THE ENGINE OR THE AIRFRAME. AN ENGINE RUN WAS PREFORMED WITH THE ENGINE ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME. IT STARTED AND RAN SMOOTHLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.