Pilot Report
According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine suddenly began running roughly. He adjusted the mixture, turned on the fuel pump, applied carburetor heat, and switched fuel tanks, but none of these actions improved the engine's performance. He spotted a runway to his right at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and attempted to land.
Collision
The pilot's approach was too fast and too high, causing the aircraft to overshoot runway 18. It then collided with trees off the departure end of the runway.
Engine Examination
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed a broken exhaust valve at the head of the number two cylinder.
Maintenance Records
A review of maintenance records showed that the engine was overhauled on July 8, 1998, at a tachometer time of 2,433.0 hours. The most recent annual inspection was performed on February 10, 2005, at which the engine total time was 3,156.4 hours, or 723.4 hours since the major overhaul.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported a total flight time of 63.6 hours, with 17.3 hours in the accident make and model. Of those, 9.2 hours were as pilot in command.