Incident Overview
The aircraft was operating on a cross-country flight at 8000 feet above ground level (AGL) on a bright moonlit night. Located 28 nautical miles west of Burns, Oregon, the engine ceased to operate during cruise. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and reversed course, following a straight, 50-foot-wide highway toward Burns.
Emergency Landing Attempt
At approximately 500 feet AGL, the pilot observed the road entering a winding path through low hills and decided to reverse course once more, intending to land on the road to the west. However, due to low-level maneuvering required to avoid the hills, the pilot was unable to align the aircraft with the road. The aircraft subsequently impacted soft desert terrain approximately 100 feet from the road, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.
Post-Impact Examination
Laboratory examination of the engine crankshaft revealed a surface-origin high-cycle fatigue fracture. The crankshaft had not been modified in compliance with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 87-23-08.