What happened
While in cruise flight, the pilot attempted to balance the fuel load by switching fuel tanks. Immediately following this action, the engine began running roughly. The pilot returned the fuel selector to the original tank, which restored normal engine performance. Because the remaining fuel in that single tank was insufficient to reach the intended destination, and no alternative airports could be located, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing in a field.
During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, causing the landing gear to collapse and resulting in damage to the wing spar. The pilot was not injured during the event.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the aircraft was not registered and lacked an airworthiness certificate. Maintenance records showed that the last annual inspection had been conducted on January 6, 1992. While the pilot was interviewed on the first day of the investigation, he did not respond to subsequent requests to complete the pilot/operator aircraft accident report.