ACFT EQUIP PROB. ENG QUIT; EMER LNDG. RPTR STATES IT DIFFICULT TO STAY CALM; ESPECIALLY WITH HIS FAMILY ON BOARD THE ACFT.

Narrative

UPON ARRIVING AT 2500 FT; I WAS FINISHING THE DSCNT CHKLIST AND GENTLY ROLLING IN THE REST OF THE MIXTURE. UPON REACHING ITS STOP; THE ENG ABRUPTLY FAILED AND NOTHING I DID FROM THE 'INFLT ENG OUT CHKLIST' DID ANYTHING. I DECLARED AN EMER; READ OFF FUEL AND SOULS ON BOARD; FOUND A FIELD AT THE SAME TIME; ASKED FOR WINDS AND SET UP A DOWNWIND LEG TO LAND TO THE NE; IN A VERY SMALL FIELD. HOWEVER; WHEN I TURNED BASE; I SAW PWR LINES AT A 45 DEG ANGLE AT THE APCH END OF THE FIELD. I AMENDED MY BASE TO GET OVER THE LINES; THEN TURN TO A 45 DEG ANGLE FINAL; PARALLELING THE PWR LINES EASEMENT; THEN TURNED FINAL WHEN IT WAS SAFE. THE HUMAN FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT IS THAT I FORCED MYSELF TO STAY VERY COOL AND IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD IN ME TO DO JUST THAT. WHEN THE ENG FAILED; I COULD FEEL THE PANIC START COMING ON FAST AND I TOLD MYSELF IF I CHOOSE TO LOSE IT RIGHT NOW; WE ALL DIE; MY FAMILY. IT WAS VERY; VERY; HARD TO STAY COOL. I PROBABLY AGED 2-3 YRS THAT NIGHT. BUT GOD'S GRACE AND STAYING COOL SAVED US. #1 RULE DO NOT PANIC. ONE OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS BEING A NIGHT EVENT WAS THAT GAINESVILLE DID NOT HIT ENTER AFTER I HUNG UP THE PHONE. MY IFR STRIP NEVER ARRIVED AT EGLIN AFB CLRNC DELIVERY. I HAD EGLIN ON THE PHONE FOR 15-20 MINS WAITING FOR MY STRIP THEN I CALLED GAINESVILLE AND GAVE MY FLT PLAN AGAIN. APPROX 25 MINS WAS BURNED BY THE FIRST GUY NOT ENTERING MY IFR FLT PLAN. ALSO COM ON THE GND TO EGLIN APCH WAS VERY BAD RESULTING IN A 3 MIN DELAY. AS A RULE I DO NOT FLY THE WIFE AND KIDS AT NIGHT (VFR OR IFR) FOR THIS REASON.