What happened
During cruise flight at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot of the aircraft experienced a loss of engine RPM. Although the engine gauges appeared to be operating within normal parameters, the RPM continued to decrease. The pilot executed all standard emergency procedures, including the application of carburetor heat, but the aircraft was unable to maintain level flight.
In response to the power loss, the pilot turned toward a remote airstrip and prepared for an emergency landing. During the landing sequence, the aircraft collided with alders before bouncing off the ground. The aircraft came to rest near the end of runway 13 at the airstrip, positioned facing the opposite direction of its original flight path.
Findings
As a result of the impact, the aircraft sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot was not injured during the event. The cause of the initial loss of engine power could not be determined, and no examination of the engine was conducted by NTSB or FAA personnel.