What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A/c was enroute frommem to lit on an IFR flight plan. Level at 4,000'. Pilot informed memartcc the right engine cylinder head temperature was too high and asked for nearest airport. ATC provided vectors to Brinkley (M36) Arkansas airport. Before the pilot found the runway he elected to execute a landing in a soft, flat, agricultural field 5 NM northwest of M36. He stated he shut down the right engine by moving the mixture level to "off" and by "feathering" the right propeller. He stated he had problems holding altitude at "100 IAS". Shortly after these actions the airplane was landed/damaged in the described field. The flaps were found retracted, the landing gear down (nose gear and right main gear separated, both propellers (all 6 blades) smoothly bent back without evidence of either propeller having been feathered.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A/C WAS ENROUTE FROMMEM TO LIT ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. LEVEL AT 4,000'. PILOT INFORMED MEMARTCC THE RIGHT ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE WAS TOO HIGH AND ASKED FOR NEAREST AIRPORT. ATC PROVIDED VECTORS TO BRINKLEY (M36) ARKANSAS AIRPORT. BEFORE THE PILOT FOUND THE RUNWAY HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A LANDING IN A SOFT, FLAT, AGRICULTURAL FIELD 5 NM NORTHWEST OF M36. HE STATED HE SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENGINE BY MOVING THE MIXTURE LEVEL TO "OFF" AND BY "FEATHERING" THE RIGHT PROPELLER. HE STATED HE HAD PROBLEMS HOLDING ALTITUDE AT "100 IAS". SHORTLY AFTER THESE ACTIONS THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED/DAMAGED IN THE DESCRIBED FIELD. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND RETRACTED, THE LANDING GEAR DOWN (NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED, BOTH PROPELLERS (ALL 6 BLADES) SMOOTHLY BENT BACK WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF EITHER PROPELLER HAVING BEEN FEATHERED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.