T Bird Golden Circle Air Inc II N5654N accident near Clara City, Minnesota

Probable cause

The airplane's loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB analysis

The non-certificated pilot changed the airplane's fuel and then conducted several high-speed taxi runs to check engine operation in preparation for the airplane’s first flight after several months of inactivity. Shortly after the subsequent takeoff, the airplane's engine began to run rough and then lost power. The pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in a vacant field. A postaccident examination confirmed flight and engine control continuity and did not detect any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Although review of a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12LA244 for the full record.