C150 student pilot reports engine failure approaching his home airport and elected to land on a two lane highway. No damage occurred and the aircraft was repaired and flown back to the home field.

Narrative

Descending to ZZZ; at an altitude of approximately 7;500 FT MSL (4;300 FT AGL) and 10 miles from the airport; the engine quit without any advance warning. All engine gauges and instruments had just been checked in conjunction with making the 10-mile inbound radio announcement. Everything was within norms with throttle set at approximately 2;100 RPM for slow descent. Mixture had been leaned at cruise at 8;500 FT approximately 30 minutes earlier. Plane was immediately set for best glide and trimmed. Plane was banked towards two-lane highway about half-mile away. Mixture was set to full rich and engine restart was attempted twice. Each time it ran rough for just a few seconds. On the third attempt engine would only turn over. Emergency radio announcements were made twice on the CATF. After making a couple of shallow turns to look at nearby rough dirt roads; the decision was made to stay with landing on the paved road; even though it was moderately busy with traffic. Though the final few feet of the landing approach was close to the traffic going the same direction; the oncoming traffic easily saw the plane and pulled to the side of the road. There was never a time that the plane could not have been diverted to the relatively flat; though bushy; terrain on the sides of the road if it appeared the cars on the road could not be cleared. Landing was with full flaps. The plane slowed quickly; and was steered down into a slight gully and into some small bushes in order to not remain in traffic. Airport personnel were called immediately to report my status. Two A&Ps drove from the airport and quickly ascertained that the mixture cable had snapped at a point where the cable goes into the carburetor housing. There was nothing to indicate any out-of-the-ordinary wear and stress on the cable; so at this time; it appears to be a defective or weak cable that just broke. Trips were made for parts and to retrieve engine log books. Repair was made; logs were signed to indicate airworthiness; and permission was obtained from the FAA for the Department of Public Safety to block traffic so the plane could be flown out. One of the A&P/Pilots flew the plane the approximate 6 NM flight back to ZZZ without further incident.