Accident Overview
Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes after takeoff, the electrical generator in the airplane failed, leading to a loss of electrical power. Subsequently, the engine began to run roughly. The pilot, a recently licensed private pilot, was uncertain of his position and initiated a precautionary landing on a county road as dusk approached.
Sequence of Events
During the landing, as the airplane touched down, the left wing struck a street sign. This impact deflected the airplane across the median of the highway and into the opposite direction traffic lanes. The accident occurred 2 hours and 45 minutes after takeoff. The airway distance from the departure airport to the intended destination was 167 nautical miles, and the distance to the accident location was approximately 142 nautical miles.
Examination
Following the accident, a subsequent examination and test run of the engine revealed no reason for the reported roughness. No other anomalies were found that could explain the engine's behavior during the flight.