A C150 pilot experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff and landed on a highway.

Attributes
ACN	787776
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	787776
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed ZZZ and climbed out on runway 25 heading. At 3700 ft MSL; engine suddenly lost power. I turned back toward the airport and declared an emergency on CTAF. After establishing best glide; I determined I would not be able to glide to the field. I switched to guard frequency (121.500) and called a mayday; informing responder I intended to land on highway xx northbound. I attempted to troubleshoot engine problem using emergency checklist to no avail. I arrived over the highway; but I was too high. Rather than slipping to the slope and suddenly descending onto automobiles; I chose to turn a very tight 360 over the highway. I hoped this would give motorists an opportunity to see me and avoid a collision. Happily; the motorists did see me and traffic stopped. I was able to make a successful landing. There was no damage to the aircraft or to any property. There were no injuries.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C150 PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND LANDED ON A HIGHWAY.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ZZZ AND CLBED OUT ON RWY 25 HDG. AT 3700 FT MSL; ENG SUDDENLY LOST PWR. I TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT AND DECLARED AN EMER ON CTAF. AFTER ESTABLISHING BEST GLIDE; I DETERMINED I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE FIELD. I SWITCHED TO GUARD FREQ (121.500) AND CALLED A MAYDAY; INFORMING RESPONDER I INTENDED TO LAND ON HWY XX NBOUND. I ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT ENG PROB USING EMER CHKLIST TO NO AVAIL. I ARRIVED OVER THE HWY; BUT I WAS TOO HIGH. RATHER THAN SLIPPING TO THE SLOPE AND SUDDENLY DSNDING ONTO AUTOMOBILES; I CHOSE TO TURN A VERY TIGHT 360 OVER THE HWY. I HOPED THIS WOULD GIVE MOTORISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ME AND AVOID A COLLISION. HAPPILY; THE MOTORISTS DID SEE ME AND TFC STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL LNDG. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR TO ANY PROPERTY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.