CHI95LA265

While en route to apply chemicals to a crop field, the airplane sustained an engine power loss. The pilot made a forced landing in a crop field and encountered a ditch during rollout. Examination of the airplane and engine after the accident failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies. A weather reporting station 26 miles northwest of the accident site reported a temperature of 89 degrees (F) and a dew point of 72 degrees (F) 29 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot stated that he did not use the carburetor heat.

On August 2, 1995, at 1930 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N5663X, operated by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage during a forced landing, three miles east of Wyatt, Missouri. The airplane sustained a loss of engine power during a flight to apply chemicals to a crop field. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Charleston, Missouri, at 1900.

The pilot stated that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. He then made a forced landing in a crop field and the airplane sustained substantial damage when the landing gear impacted a ditch. The pilot stated that he did not know the reason for the loss of power. He said that he thought the temperature was too high for carburetor icing, but that he had not used carburetor heat.

Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspector who examined the airplane found no pre-existing mechanical anomalies. He stated that weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.

There was a weather reporting station 26 miles to the northwest of the accident site. Thirty-nine minutes prior to the accident that station was reporting a temperature of 89 degrees (F) with a dew point of 72 degrees (F).