Accident Overview
The pilot was on approach to land at a destination airport. After turning from base to final at 500 feet above ground level, the pilot added power to extend the glide. The engine did not respond and remained at idle. The pilot then applied full throttle, but there was still no increase in power from idle.
Forced Landing
Seeing power lines and buildings between the aircraft and the airport, the pilot determined that reaching the runway was not possible. He decided to make a forced landing on a nearby freeway. During the landing, the pilot stalled the airplane to land between cars. The aircraft touched down hard, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage.
Weather Conditions
During the approach, the pilot had checked weather reports. The winds at the destination airport were reported as from 080 degrees at 20 to 30 knots. The nearest official weather reporting facility, located 20 nautical miles from the accident site, reported winds from 080 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 23 knots. Local airport operations personnel noted strong easterly winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour during the day.
Post-Accident Inspection
An inspection of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.