What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During climb-out, the aircraft’s engine experienced a significant drop in RPM. The pilot engaged engine carburator heat, however engine RPM could not be restored and continued to drop. The pilot attempted to turn back to the airport but was unable to restore sufficient power to maintain altitude. An emergency landing was initiated on the frozen river where the nose wheel caught in the soft snow, resulting in the aircraft becoming inverted causing damage to both wings.
As the FAA filed it
DURING CLIMB-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT’S ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN RPM. THE PILOT ENGAGED ENGINE CARBURATOR HEAT, HOWEVER ENGINE RPM COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND CONTINUED TO DROP. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS INITIATED ON THE FROZEN RIVER WHERE THE NOSE WHEEL CAUGHT IN THE SOFT SNOW, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING INVERTED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.