Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26; Flight Crew Total 273; Flight Crew Type 204
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
I was flying with VFR flight following. I had been cleared by Departure to descend at pilot's discretion (from 2;500 feet) and contact Tower. I contacted Tower and was cleared to land. I completed my pre-landing checklist. As I descended to enter a right base; I was at about 800 feet when I reduced power to continue the descent and set up my turn to final. The engine sputtered. At that point I did not have any power. The prop was still turning. I moved the throttle in and out which confirmed no power. I contacted Tower to let them know and then went to performing emergency procedures. At this point I was still descending and I chose to land on the road as it was close and appeared to be clear (I noticed traffic was held up at a stop light and there were no visible wires crossing the road.) I did not see another suitable landing area. I made my approach and landing and was able to use full flaps to slow my airspeed before touch-down. I slowed the aircraft down on the ground and then used the last bit of inertia to taxi off of the roadway. When I stopped; the engine was not running. I contacted Tower to let them know where I had landed; they said they would send emergency response teams. I then shut off the fuel tanks; put the flaps up; turned off the master and ignition switches and got out of the aircraft and waited for emergency response to arrive.
C172 pilot reported loss of power in the pattern; resulting in a forced landing on a nearby road.