This August 2008 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Bay City, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The airplane was in cruise flight about three miles from the destination airport when the engine stumbled, then quit. The pilot was able to momentarily restart the engine before the engine lost complete power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a cornfield. The nose gear collapsed when it hit rough terrain. The post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The left and right fuel tanks contained approximately 3.9 gallons and 2.6 gallons. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 24° and 14° Celsius. Data indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under those conditions.
Probable cause: The loss of engine power during descent due to carburetor icing.
For more information: NTSB.gov
