A three quarter scale mustang P51 pilot has an engine malfunction and performs an off field landing.

Attributes
ACN	721548
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz1.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Amateur (Home) Built
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 6340 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	721548
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On dec/sun/06; flying 10 mi south of ZZZ1; in a 3/4 scale mustang; en route to ZZZ; the engine began to surge. I switched tanks and turned on the fuel boost pump; the propellers were windmilling. I made a call to ATC requesting the nearest runway. She directed me to ZZZ. I turned the aircraft in the direction I was instructed; the engine started to run smooth again and in the process I had lost 700 ft of altitude. I called ATC informing them I was not going to make ZZZ. There was a clearing 3/4 mi ahead; I decided to keep the head up knowing it would not power up enough to clear the trees. Rather than stall the airplane; I landed in the field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A THREE QUARTER SCALE MUSTANG P51 PLT HAS AN ENG MALFUNCTION AND PERFORMS AN OFF FIELD LNDG.

Narrative: ON DEC/SUN/06; FLYING 10 MI S OF ZZZ1; IN A 3/4 SCALE MUSTANG; ENRTE TO ZZZ; THE ENG BEGAN TO SURGE. I SWITCHED TANKS AND TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP; THE PROPS WERE WINDMILLING. I MADE A CALL TO ATC REQUESTING THE NEAREST RWY. SHE DIRECTED ME TO ZZZ. I TURNED THE ACFT IN THE DIRECTION I WAS INSTRUCTED; THE ENG STARTED TO RUN SMOOTH AGAIN AND IN THE PROCESS I HAD LOST 700 FT OF ALT. I CALLED ATC INFORMING THEM I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE ZZZ. THERE WAS A CLRING 3/4 MI AHEAD; I DECIDED TO KEEP THE HEAD UP KNOWING IT WOULD NOT PWR UP ENOUGH TO CLR THE TREES. RATHER THAN STALL THE AIRPLANE; I LANDED IN THE FIELD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 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.