Accident Overview
The flight was the third of three flights intended to give each passenger an opportunity to sit in the front seat while airborne. Approximately 2 miles from the airport at an altitude of 1,800 feet, the engine lost power, dropped to idle, and did not respond to throttle, carburetor heat, mixture, or fuel selector adjustments. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field.
Forced Landing and Impact
As the airplane crossed a road perpendicular to its flight path, the landing gear struck and broke the top strands of barbed-wire fences on both sides of the road. The airplane then impacted the ground and nosed over.
Investigation Findings
Examination revealed that the throttle cable rod-end was disconnected from the throttle arm. The shank bolt was in place with no damage to its threads. Additionally, the aircraft's annual inspection and two airworthiness directives were 16 months overdue. The pilot's records showed that his last medical certificate was issued 55 months prior, and his last biennial flight review was 35 months overdue.