What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The airplane was 6 miles from the airport when 'something broke on the throttle. The airplane's engine would only develop idle power.' The pilot 'trimmed the airplane for 120 miles per hour and tried to make the runway.' When he noticed that his visual glide path was too low, the pilot elected to land the airplane on a highway between moving automobiles. During the landing, the airplane stuck a curb, an automobile and a truck before coming to a stop on the highway. Examination revealed that the throttle linkage cable to the throttle arm spring had broken leaving the throttle arm in the idle power position. (-23) 6 miles east of ues pilot indicated he lost ability to increase engine power (broken throttle spring). Aircraft was too low to make ues, turned north, landed on hiway 164/M.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE AIRPLANE WAS 6 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN 'SOMETHING BROKE ON THE THROTTLE. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WOULD ONLY DEVELOP IDLE POWER.' THE PILOT 'TRIMMED THE AIRPLANE FOR 120 MILES PER HOUR AND TRIED TO MAKE THE RUNWAY.' WHEN HE NOTICED THAT HIS VISUAL GLIDE PATH WAS TOO LOW, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON A HIGHWAY BETWEEN MOVING AUTOMOBILES. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STUCK A CURB, AN AUTOMOBILE AND A TRUCK BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE CABLE TO THE THROTTLE ARM SPRING HAD BROKEN LEAVING THE THROTTLE ARM IN THE IDLE POWER POSITION. (-23) 6 MILES EAST OF UES PILOT INDICATED HE LOST ABILITY TO INCREASE ENGINE POWER (BROKEN THROTTLE SPRING). AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE UES, TURNED NORTH, LANDED ON HIWAY 164/M.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.