Incident Overview
A student and an instructor were on a training flight at cruise altitude when the engine lost power. The instructor took control and steered the aircraft toward a field while attempting to restart the engine. The engine restarted, and the pilot applied full power, but the engine lost power again. According to the instructor, the aircraft was traveling too fast to reach the intended field, so they redirected toward an adjacent road.
Sequence of Events
As the instructor maneuvered to align the aircraft with the road, the left wing struck a traffic light. The impact caused the airplane to cartwheel across the ground for approximately 150 feet before coming to rest in a nose-down attitude. The instructor provided these details.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the aircraft. The fuel selector switch was found in the 'ON' position. No fuel was present in the right fuel tank, while approximately 3 to 4 gallons of fuel were found in the left tank. No other information was provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, or injuries.