What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Preflight inspections were completed with all conditions nominal, including sumping clean fuel 30 minutes after a top off for the flight. There were no indications of any engine trouble for the 2+ hours of flight prior to arriving at FD22. I arrived at FD22 from the wnw at 1,200’ MSL and overflew midfield to check the windsock. I entered left downwind for runway 23 at this altitude with 2,000 RPM and pulled to 1,200 RPM slowing down to 87 knots and commanded flaps 15. Turned left base and commanded flaps 25 and as typical commanded more power (usually to 1,600-1,700 RPM) but engine did not respond. I noted about 650’ MSL (about 500’ AGL) retracted flaps to get longest glide and maintained 70+ knots indicated. I knew I was too FAR from the runway to make it clear of trees. I tried cranking the engine for about 3 seconds but no joy. I switched from left to right fuel tank and cranked again but no joy. The area is heavily wooded so I decided one of two lakes close by would be the best option. I bled as much speed as I could before impacting the water in the farthest NE corner of the lake.
As the FAA filed it
PREFLIGHT INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED WITH ALL CONDITIONS NOMINAL, INCLUDING SUMPING CLEAN FUEL 30 MINUTES AFTER A TOP OFF FOR THE FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY ENGINE TROUBLE FOR THE 2+ HOURS OF FLIGHT PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT FD22. I ARRIVED AT FD22 FROM THE WNW AT 1,200’ MSL AND OVERFLEW MIDFIELD TO CHECK THE WINDSOCK. I ENTERED LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 23 AT THIS ALTITUDE WITH 2,000 RPM AND PULLED TO 1,200 RPM SLOWING DOWN TO 87 KNOTS AND COMMANDED FLAPS 15. TURNED LEFT BASE AND COMMANDED FLAPS 25 AND AS TYPICAL COMMANDED MORE POWER (USUALLY TO 1,600-1,700 RPM) BUT ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. I NOTED ABOUT 650’ MSL (ABOUT 500’ AGL) RETRACTED FLAPS TO GET LONGEST GLIDE AND MAINTAINED 70+ KNOTS INDICATED. I KNEW I WAS TOO FAR FROM THE RUNWAY TO MAKE IT CLEAR OF TREES. I TRIED CRANKING THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS BUT NO JOY. I SWITCHED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT FUEL TANK AND CRANKED AGAIN BUT NO JOY. THE AREA IS HEAVILY WOODED SO I DECIDED ONE OF TWO LAKES CLOSE BY WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION. I BLED AS MUCH SPEED AS I COULD BEFORE IMPACTING THE WATER IN THE FARTHEST NE CORNER OF THE LAKE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.