What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was maneuvering the PA-18 over the minto flats. The pilot said the engine just did not sound right but there were no indications. The pilot decided to head back to the float pond at the chena marina. On the way the engine popped and quit operating. The pilot was over a densely wooded area and did not see any good places to make an emergency landing. The aircraft went into the trees causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot was uninjured. It was discovered the #3 cylinder departed the engine.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE PA-18 OVER THE MINTO FLATS. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE JUST DID NOT SOUND RIGHT BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE FLOAT POND AT THE CHENA MARINA. ON THE WAY THE ENGINE POPPED AND QUIT OPERATING. THE PILOT WAS OVER A DENSELY WOODED AREA AND DID NOT SEE ANY GOOD PLACES TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WENT INTO THE TREES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE #3 CYLINDER DEPARTED THE ENGINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.