A C172 pilot experienced a loss of power and made an off airport landing near sut.

Attributes
ACN	453986
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sut.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach landing : roll
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	453986
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : tach other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flew friends to myrtle beach (grand strand) for lunch. Received WX brief for the day and filed first leg VFR flight plan with FSS from albert ellis airport in jacksonville, nc (oaj). Landed without incident at grand strand. Took off from grand strand about XA20 after filing VFR flight plan with FSS. Flew at 1000 ft, no significant winds and no problems noticed. Engine went to under power situation without any warning or apparent reason. Engine did not sputter out, so I thought we may have a chance to make it to brunswick county airport. I commenced with the emergency procedure to trim the aircraft to best glide speed and found the nearest clearing to land at in case I could not make it to brunswick county. Turned towards brunswick county and had it in sight straight away, but it was evident that we could not make it. The RPM were stuck under 500 and did not respond to throttle manipulation. I thought about attempting a restart but the engine was still on. I turned towards the clearing and we set down with some damage to the aircraft but all 4 people on board were ok. The FAA has determined that this is labeled an 'incident' and not an 'accident' due to the lack of substantial aircraft damage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PWR AND MADE AN OFF ARPT LNDG NEAR SUT.

Narrative: FLEW FRIENDS TO MYRTLE BEACH (GRAND STRAND) FOR LUNCH. RECEIVED WX BRIEF FOR THE DAY AND FILED FIRST LEG VFR FLT PLAN WITH FSS FROM ALBERT ELLIS ARPT IN JACKSONVILLE, NC (OAJ). LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AT GRAND STRAND. TOOK OFF FROM GRAND STRAND ABOUT XA20 AFTER FILING VFR FLT PLAN WITH FSS. FLEW AT 1000 FT, NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS AND NO PROBS NOTICED. ENG WENT TO UNDER PWR SIT WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR APPARENT REASON. ENG DID NOT SPUTTER OUT, SO I THOUGHT WE MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO BRUNSWICK COUNTY ARPT. I COMMENCED WITH THE EMER PROC TO TRIM THE ACFT TO BEST GLIDE SPD AND FOUND THE NEAREST CLRING TO LAND AT IN CASE I COULD NOT MAKE IT TO BRUNSWICK COUNTY. TURNED TOWARDS BRUNSWICK COUNTY AND HAD IT IN SIGHT STRAIGHT AWAY, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE IT. THE RPM WERE STUCK UNDER 500 AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MANIPULATION. I THOUGHT ABOUT ATTEMPTING A RESTART BUT THE ENG WAS STILL ON. I TURNED TOWARDS THE CLRING AND WE SET DOWN WITH SOME DAMAGE TO THE ACFT BUT ALL 4 PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE OK. THE FAA HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS LABELED AN 'INCIDENT' AND NOT AN 'ACCIDENT' DUE TO THE LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL ACFT DAMAGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.