On February 28, 2004, an Alon A2 ERCOUPE (registration N825DC) operated by Cory Johnson was involved in an aviation accident near Hawley, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain control during a forced landing after an unexplained loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot executed a forced landing on a gravel road after experiencing engine sputtering and rough running during a climb attempt while circling a farm field.
What happened
The aircraft sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a gravel road. The incident occurred when the airplane struck a fence post, which caused the aircraft to spin into a ditch.
Prior to the landing, the pilot was circling a farm field. During this maneuver, the engine began to sputter and run very rough when the pilot applied full power in an attempt to climb. Due to the loss of power, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing on the nearby gravel road.
The investigation
Following the accident, the aircraft was examined to determine the cause of the power loss. However, the loss of engine power could not be duplicated upon later examination.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control during a forced landing after an unexplained loss of engine power.