Shortly after levelling off at 7500 ft, the engine of the Cessna
206 lost power. After establishing the aircraft in a glide, the
pilot broadcast a MAYDAY and went through the emergency checks. As
he pulled on the mixture control, it came out of the instrument
panel. The pilot pushed it back into the panel and continued with
the checks. As the aircraft descended, the pilot noticed an
airstrip in a field to his left. After identifying the strip he
notified Flight Watch of his intention to land there.
On final approach, the aircraft undershot and contacted trees at
the end of the field. The aircraft touched down on all three wheels
in the cleared area just short of the strip, before the left wheel
hit a log resulting in the aircraft flipping upside down. The pilot
was uninjured and climbed clear of the aircraft through the left
door.
An inspection of the aircraft by maintenance engineers found
that the mixture cable had failed at its crimped fitting, allowing
the mixture control to move to a lean setting. This resulted in the
engine shutting down. A major defect report was submitted to the
Civil Aviation Safety Authority.