What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated he took off from Massey air ranch about 3:00 pm local time. While still climbing toward a target altitude of 1,200', he discovered he had radio problems and decied to return to Massey. He entered the down-wind leg of runway 18: then turned base. When he added throttle to decrease his sink rate, he got no response from the engine. He immediately turned final and established a glide at 65 KIAS, but he was still too FAR from the airport to make it. Pilot double-checked engine controls; fuel valve, mixture, carbuertor heat and mags. Engine did not respond. The underlying terrain consisted of scrub palmettos and trees. Pilot landed on the shortest palmetto he could find..
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF FROM MASSEY AIR RANCH ABOUT 3:00 PM LOCAL TIME. WHILE STILL CLIMBING TOWARD A TARGET ALTITUDE OF 1,200', HE DISCOVERED HE HAD RADIO PROBLEMS AND DECIED TO RETURN TO MASSEY. HE ENTERED THE DOWN-WIND LEG OF RUNWAY 18: THEN TURNED BASE. WHEN HE ADDED THROTTLE TO DECREASE HIS SINK RATE, HE GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED FINAL AND ESTABLISHED A GLIDE AT 65 KIAS, BUT HE WAS STILL TOO FAR FROM THE AIRPORT TO MAKE IT. PILOT DOUBLE-CHECKED ENGINE CONTROLS; FUEL VALVE, MIXTURE, CARBUERTOR HEAT AND MAGS. ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE UNDERLYING TERRAIN CONSISTED OF SCRUB PALMETTOS AND TREES. PILOT LANDED ON THE SHORTEST PALMETTO HE COULD FIND..
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.