What happened
The aircraft nosed over while attempting a forced landing in a corn field after the engine quit. The pilot reported that he was operating on the left tank when the engine began to sputter. Upon realizing the issue, he immediately switched tanks, but the engine failed to restart.
At the time of the failure, the aircraft was flying approximately 500 feet above ground level (AGL). With limited altitude remaining, the pilot had insufficient time to take any action other than selecting a suitable field for landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the engine and fuel system. Evidence indicated that the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. Despite the pilot's immediate attempt to switch tanks, the engine did not restart, leading to the forced landing.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to operate on the left tank without adequate monitoring of fuel levels. The low altitude at the time of failure limited the pilot's options for recovery or alternative landing sites.