ATL83FA045

Factual narrative

APPROXIMATELY 45 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE PLT HEADED TOWARD THE NEAREST ARPT WITH THE ENG STILL RUNNING ROUGH. THE PLT ENTERED DOWNWIND & PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW A NORMAL LANDING PATTERN. AS HE TURNED FINAL, THE ENG QUIT COMPLETELY. THE ACFT HIT TREE TOPS & CAME TO REST IN A SHALLOW CREEK. THE WINGS WERE NOT IN THE WATER. PRIOR TOREMOVING THE ACFT, APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TO 1 OZ OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM EACH WING. ENG EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE TOP PISTON RING FROM CYLINDERS 2 & 4 WERE BROKEN. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE 7/82. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOT PRACTICED A PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH SINCE HIS STUDENT DAYS, & EVEN THOSE WERE DONE TO A MINIMUM ALTITUDE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED ON PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH PROCEDURES WITH ROUGH RUNNING ENGINES OR WITH PARTIAL POWER LOSS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12