What happened
The pilot was operating a personal flight when the engine experienced a partial loss of power. In response to the mechanical issue, the pilot selected a nearby field as an emergency landing site and began maneuvering toward it. As the aircraft approached the intended landing area, the pilot determined that trees in the vicinity posed an imminent collision hazard. Consequently, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the engine ceased operation entirely. The airplane subsequently collided with an oak tree and came to rest approximately 30 feet above the ground.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the mechanical status of the powerplant. Inspectors found that four to six gallons of fuel remained in the tanks, indicating that fuel exhaustion was not the immediate cause of the failure. The inspector reviewed the engine and airframe but indicated he found no obvious mechanical reason for the partial loss of power or the subsequent complete failure.
Findings
The sequence of events involved a sudden degradation of engine performance followed by a total loss of thrust during a critical phase of flight. The pilot's decision to attempt a go-around around obstacles resulted in the aircraft impacting vegetation at an altitude that prevented a survivable landing. The presence of residual fuel suggests the failure was likely due to an internal mechanical malfunction or an intermittent issue rather than a simple depletion of resources.