NTSB Factual Report

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he entered the pattern on left base for landing on runway 14. The pilot stated that he was low turning from base to final approach and added power, however, the engine did not respond. The pilot realized that he would not make the runway and chose an open field for an off airport landing. During the landing roll, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to avoid a collision with a fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right landing gear attach fitting and longeron as well as the right wing tip.

After the aircraft was recovered from the field and taken to the airport, the engine was started and found to run without anomaly on the main fuel tank.

During the telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot stated that after the accident he had pulled up the weather current at the time of the accident and noted that the temperature and dew point fell into the range of serious icing at glide power. The nearest weather reporting facility located at Reid-Hillview (RHV), San Jose, California, was reporting at 1447 a temperature of 70 degrees F. and a dew point of 55 degrees F.

NTSB Probable Cause

Carburetor icing conditions which resulted in a loss of engine power during the base turn to final approach. The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation for the flight was a factor.