Unable To Restore Power To The Engine, He Elected To Execute A Forced Landing

Location: Perry, FL Accident Number: ERA24LA043
Date & Time: November 17, 2023, 17:08 Local Registration: N37MB
Aircraft: Lancair IV Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On November 17, 2023, about 1708 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Lancair IV-P, N37MB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Perry, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) with about 40 minutes of daylight remaining when he noted that a ceiling had developed below him. Accordingly, he decided to descend through a hole in the cloud layer and divert to Perry-Foley Airport (FPY), Perry, Florida. When the airplane levelled off under the cloud layer at 2,000 ft msl, he pushed in the throttle but “nothing happened.” He pulled the throttle fully out expecting the engine to slow, but again, the engine power remained unchanged. The pilot switched fuel tanks and enrichened the mixture; however, unable to restore power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing. He considered landing on a road but believed that he could not slow the airplane enough to make a safe landing, so he landed straight ahead into sapling pine trees.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest inverted. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. 

The airplane was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov