Forced Landing in Cornfield After Engine Power Loss (N33341)

Incident Overview and Flight Context The pilot was operating the fourth and final leg of a night cross-country flight when the engine lost power after the airport came into view. The Hobbs meter recorded a total flight time of 4.9 hours and four takeoffs for the operation. The aircraft involved was a PA-28R-200, which had a usable fuel capacity of 48 gallons, with 2 gallons (256 ounces) designated as unusable fuel. Following the loss of power, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure. During the final approach, the pilot assessed that the aircraft was too high and fast to safely land on the runway. Consequently, the pilot continued straight ahead under control and brought the aircraft to rest in a cornfield. Post-incident, the FAA reported draining 72 ounces of fuel from the wing tanks.