Primary finding
Probable cause
Poor in-flight planning/preparation. A factor to the accident was: improper use of the mixture.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
At the end of the flight, the pilot reported that he entered the pattern for the runway. Carb heat was applied while on downwind. As the airplane was turning to the base leg, the engine quit. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and the airplane touched down apprx 50 feet short of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a fence. After the accident, the pilot stated to an individual at the airport, that he had leaned the mixture for a high altitude airport. Post-crash inspection revealed that when started, the engine ran normal at idle power for a short period, then was shut down due to a bent propeller blade. There were no noted mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Source record
Factual narrative
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