In a previous post I asked what folks thought about my going it alone after a dozen or so successful buddy cord landings. My instructor and I aren't going to be able to get together for a few weeks.

I felt pretty confident, so headed off to the public (non-club) field where I flew it just fine.

However, I made about 4 landing attempts, but on each one, whenever I throttled back to idle for final approach, the engine died. I got her in fine, though rather ugly on the first three. The last was a little worse, as I was trying give myself a longer approach, and actually was a lot further out than I thought. Once again, the motor quit on my turning into final, and as I started to glide her in, wap, a tree! Fortunately, she was flying quite slow at the time, and hit the top of the tree. It took me about a half an hour and a bunch of scratches and nicks, but I got the plane, and she's no worse for wear, you'd never know it crashed. I guess I haven't gotten the depth perception part down quite yet.

But anyway, on to my question. When the plane was on the ground, I could rev the engine all the way up, no problem, and idle fine as well. When I simulated a flight, by revving full throttle for a minute or so, then half throttle for a minute or so, then cut the throttle all the way back, the engine seemed fine.

But, every time in the air, as I turned into the base leg, and cut the throttle back, the engine would quit.

Can anyone tell me where to look? What could cause this unusual failure. This is about it's 15th flight or so and we never had that problem before.

Thanks!

Tim