Incident Overview
During a local pleasure night flight in normal cruise configuration, the pilot encountered a loss of engine power. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing. The intended landing area was adjacent to a highway, but the darkness restricted the pilot's vision. As a result, the aircraft touched down on a highway exit ramp.
Sequence of Events
After touchdown on the exit ramp, the aircraft struck a guard rail. The impact caused the aircraft to nose over and skid down the embankment on the other side of the guard rail. The forced landing was necessitated by the loss of engine power.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed evidence of water contamination. This contamination was determined to be the cause of the engine power loss. No other causal factors were identified in the report.
Conclusion
The accident occurred due to a loss of engine power resulting from water contamination in the fuel system. The darkness during the night flight contributed to the inability to execute the forced landing as intended, leading to impact with the guard rail and subsequent damage to the aircraft.