Great story!
Never argue with success, but I would have taken the field.
I've had 41 dead stick landings.
you need a better mechanic doing your annuals
I've had 3 dead stick landings. How many have you had?
I also practice engine out ...
http://youtu.be/_xZmsxEewik
I am aiming for the most wide open field I can find.
Moot. Also, weak argument.
You weren't there to see what that pilot saw yet you say you'd take the field as if you know better.
I call BS unless you have intimate local knowledge of that field and road on that day. Otherwise, it's typical internet muscles.
Two 18 year olds on board, that's a formula for disaster. The field or the road ,they made a great landing with no injuries and no damage. Well done.
I'm figuring take off with carb heat still pulled.
Did the pilot talk about the incident?
Impossible to tell why he chose the road but it looks like he had power lines on only one side. I was not there so I can't judge. I've had two.. One at teterboro in a mooney, quit just after takeoff, put gear backdown, landed, the other Stearman quit over farm land. Both luck of the draw as they happened as they did. Could have died in either with slightly different timing. In this case, maybe they forgot to turn the gas on. Happens sometimes.
I've tested my fuel shutoff, it shuts down the engine rather quickly; fast enough that I have no doubts that its in proper position if the engine is idling.
It's fair compensation for the hassle of 13 fuel sumps.