Incident Overview
A pilot departed Panama City, Florida, en route to Tampa when the manifold pressure and oil pressure began to drop. The pilot then turned the aircraft towards Apalachicola in an attempt to reach the airport but was unable to do so. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in a swampy area approximately two miles from the airport.
Post-Crash Examination
Following the forced landing, a post-crash examination of the engine was conducted. The examination revealed that the #4 main bearing had turned on the journal. This condition caused oil starvation to the connecting rods, which likely led to the loss of engine power.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the manifold pressure and oil pressure started to drop during the flight from Panama City to Tampa. After turning towards Apalachicola, the pilot was unable to reach the airport and executed the forced landing in the swampy terrain.