What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was conducting flight training maneuvers. After completing a series of power-on departure stalls at an altitude of 3,500 feet, the pilot climbed to 6,500 feet to practice several power-off approach and landing stalls. During one of these maneuvers, at approximately 3,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter before quitting completely. Unable to restart or restore power, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a nearby vegetable field.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft and its systems. Approximately 20 gallons of fuel were drained from the aircraft for analysis. To determine if a mechanical defect was responsible for the power loss, the engine was subsequently test-run on the ground. The test run indicated that the engine operated normally, suggesting no inherent mechanical failure at the time of inspection.
Findings
The sequence of events points to fuel exhaustion as the primary factor. The pilot had been conducting multiple stall maneuvers, which are high-power-demand activities when performed as power-on departures, followed by power-off stalls that require precise throttle management. The sudden loss of power at altitude, combined with the successful ground test run, indicates that the aircraft ran out of usable fuel during the training session rather than suffering from a mechanical malfunction.
Safety message
Pilots conducting stall recovery training should carefully monitor fuel quantity and consumption rates. High-power maneuvers can deplete fuel reserves more quickly than anticipated, especially when transitioning between different flight phases without adequate planning.