What happened
The aircraft was operating in the climb phase, shortly after takeoff, when it encountered a sudden loss of engine power. At the time of the incident, the airplane was climbing through an altitude of 300 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful in restoring power.
Assessing the situation, the pilot determined that the aircraft was beyond gliding distance to any suitable landing site. Consequently, the decision was made to ditch the airplane in the underlying waters of the Ohio River.
The investigation
A thorough examination was conducted to determine the cause of the engine failure. The investigation did not disclose any mechanical defects within the engine that could account for the power loss.
Fuel quantity checks revealed that there were approximately 15 gallons of fuel remaining in each tank at the time of the incident.