Forced Landing After Engine Failure During Descent (N21380)

Incident Overview and Initial Descent Sequence The pilot was issued a descent clearance twenty miles south of the destination airport. During the arrival procedure, the pilot completed an arrival check that included applying carburetor heat, changed the fuel selector position, and established a 500-foot-per-minute rate of descent from 5,000 feet. ## Engine Failure and Forced Landing Attempt Upon reaching 2,500 feet, the pilot applied full throttle but realized that the engine had quit. Attempts to restore full power failed, and the pilot selected a nearby road for a forced landing. During the approach descent to land, the pilot determined that there was insufficient altitude available to make a safe landing on the road. The airplane collided with a stand of trees short of an alternate landing site. ## Post-Impact Findings The pilot and passenger exited the airplane after the impact. When the pilot returned to the aircraft, the fuel selector was found in the off position. Examination of the airplane failed to reveal a mechanical problem.