I think luck was a factor as well but he got it down in one piece. Im curious about the point where he lost his engine. He might have faired better by looking for an open field instead of making the "death turn" to try to make the field. I thought I heard in the audio that he said he was downwind. Not sure if he lost the engine on or before the downwind though. He was too darn close to scraping that wingtip and a completely different outcome. Glad everything turned out well though.
from the sounds he lost partial power downwind. because the tower asks him if he can maintain altitude and he confirms. he then tells the tower he is making the tight circuit. so i would assume he loses total power just prior to that point?
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