N55259

On December 9, 1997, at 1200 central time, a Piper PA-28-140, N55259, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after departing a private airstrip. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot said the engine lost power on initial climb and a forced landing resulted in the airplane impacting a fence. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in what the pilot stated was visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the local flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

Bismarck Municipal Airport, 40 miles to the west of the accident site was reporting instrument meteorological conditions in the form of a ceiling of 800 feet, five minutes prior to the accident. The temperature was 26 degrees (F),and the dew point was 23 degrees (F). Jamestown Municipal Airport 52 miles to the east of the accident site was reporting instrument meteorological conditions in the form of visibility one and one-half miles in light snow and fog, 12 minutes prior to the accident. The temperature was 28 degrees (F) and the dew point was 23 degrees (F). The pilot reported conditions at the accident site as clear with unrestricted visibility.

The pilot said that after the initial loss of power and he initiated a forced landing, he switched tanks and "tried" the carburetor heat, but engine power was not restored prior to the airplane touching down and impacting a fence..

An Icing Probability chart from a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular is attached to this report. The temperatures and dew points from the above reporting stations indicate conditions favorable to formation of induction system icing.