What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A normal preflight was performed; however, the pilot reported the start "took a little longer than normal." The pilot stated that during run-up everything checked out normal. A full power takeoff was initiated at 35 gallons of fuel per hour with all instruments in the green. The gear was retracted and a cruise climb was initiated at 120 knots, 34 inches of manifold pressure and 1600 RPM on the propeller. Approximately 2 to 3 minutes into the flight, at approximately 1500 feet above ground level, the pilot reported "a major loss in power." A return to mmh was initiated and emergency procedures for "engine failure in flight" were performed. Engine power could not be restored and the pilot realized an emergency landing was imminent. The landing gear was lowered and the aircraft impacted the ground in a snow covered meadow approximately 2 miles from mmh. The impact severely damaged the main landing gear and wing structure. The aircraft came to rest about 50 feet from the impact point in the direction of travel. Investigation revealed approximately 70 gallons of fuel was available in the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A NORMAL PREFLIGHT WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE START "TOOK A LITTLE LONGER THAN NORMAL." THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING RUN-UP EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NORMAL. A FULL POWER TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED AT 35 GALLONS OF FUEL PER HOUR WITH ALL INSTRUMENTS IN THE GREEN. THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED AND A CRUISE CLIMB WAS INITIATED AT 120 KNOTS, 34 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND 1600 RPM ON THE PROPELLER. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT REPORTED "A MAJOR LOSS IN POWER." A RETURN TO MMH WAS INITIATED AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR "ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT" WERE PERFORMED. ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND THE PILOT REALIZED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS IMMINENT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOWERED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A SNOW COVERED MEADOW APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM MMH. THE IMPACT SEVERELY DAMAGED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND WING STRUCTURE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE IMPACT POINT IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED APPROXIMATELY 70 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE IN THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.