Incident Details
A student pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when the engine RPM dropped. Shortly after, an engine vibration commenced. Another aircraft reported seeing a smoke trail from the student's aircraft.
Emergency Landing
The pilot elected to make an off-airport landing and selected a wheat field as the landing site. An emergency broadcast was made. The pilot performed a soft field landing. After touchdown, the nose wheel sank into the mud, and the aircraft nosed over.
Post-Crash Inspection
A post-crash inspection of the engine revealed evidence that the number four piston had broken.