An off-airport landing is quite doable and probably more survivable in an
amphibious flying hull, pusher design.

Agreed. And the fact that we've got a nice blanket of snow around
here (albeit frozen solid, with high temperatures barely above zero)
*should* have made it even easier.

Blane was an experienced CFII, who was taught to fly by his dad in a
Pietenpol. He was a real stick and rudder guy, who (according to
friends who flew with him) during BFRs always stressed off-airport
landing survivability.

Therefore, many in our local pilot community are leaning toward
something other than a simple engine failure as a cause of this
tragedy. Blane was just too experienced, and the terrain was just
too benign, for this to have been a simple "engine out -- glide into a
field and walk away" scenario.

But, again, we may never know.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"