What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) PIC departed Lodi airport and was operated at altitudes between 800 to 1500 feet. Upon descent back to Lodi airport at approximately 900 feet the aircraft engine power began to surge. PIC attempted to stabilize power by cycling the fuel boost pump, and operated the throttle and choke lever to stabilize the engine. The engine continued to surge and the PIC initiated a shallow bank to the east to attempt a landing on a hard packed road. At approximately 200 feet the engine failed but the propeller continued to rotate. On approach the aircraft began to drift to the left. PIC was unable to realign the aircraft and opted for a parallel levee. The aircraft touched down approximately 6" below the top of the levee berm. The aircraft continued at a slightly diagonal path to the berm road and decelerated rapidly. The aircraft came to a rest at the base of the levee berm. No injuries to PIC or passenger. Damage to aircraft was minor.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PIC DEPARTED LODI AIRPORT AND WAS OPERATED AT ALTITUDES BETWEEN 800 TO 1500 FEET. UPON DESCENT BACK TO LODI AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE POWER BEGAN TO SURGE. PIC ATTEMPTED TO STABILIZE POWER BY CYCLING THE FUEL BOOST PUMP, AND OPERATED THE THROTTLE AND CHOKE LEVER TO STABILIZE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AND THE PIC INITIATED A SHALLOW BANK TO THE EAST TO ATTEMPT A LANDING ON A HARD PACKED ROAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET THE ENGINE FAILED BUT THE PROPELLER CONTINUED TO ROTATE. ON APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. PIC WAS UNABLE TO REALIGN THE AIRCRAFT AND OPTED FOR A PARALLEL LEVEE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 6" BELOW THE TOP OF THE LEVEE BERM. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AT A SLIGHTLY DIAGONAL PATH TO THE BERM ROAD AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST AT THE BASE OF THE LEVEE BERM. NO INJURIES TO PIC OR PASSENGER. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT WAS MINOR.