What happened
According to the pilot's account, the flight proceeded normally until five minutes into the journey when the engine began to lose power smoothly. The reduction in performance was gradual but distinct enough to prompt immediate action. Recognizing the inability to maintain altitude or return to the departure airport, the pilot identified a nearby road as a suitable site for an emergency landing.
As the aircraft descended toward the chosen roadway, it collided with an automobile that was traveling in the same direction along the road. The impact occurred during the final phase of the approach to touchdown, resulting in a crash at ground level.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the engine assembly to determine the root cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed that the mixture control cable had failed mechanically. This failure prevented the engine from receiving the correct fuel-air mixture, leading to the observed reduction in power.
Prior to the incident, the engine had operated normally during functional checks, indicating that the component failure likely occurred during flight rather than being a pre-existing defect detectable on the ground.