On June 16, 1999, a North American NAVION L-17A (registration N109F) was involved in an aviation accident near Osceola, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system in that he had the fuel selector positioned to a tank which did not contain sufficient fuel for the flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced a loss of engine power about 30 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft touched down in a corn field, contacted a ditch, and stopped 400 feet short of a runway. Post-accident inspection revealed empty tip and main fuel tanks, with the auxiliary tank full.
Incident Overview
Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine "coughed" and subsequently activated the fuel boost pumps. The engine ran briefly before losing power completely. The pilot then switched to the auxiliary fuel tank but was unable to restart the engine.
Forced Landing
During the forced landing descent, the landing gear and flaps were extended. The aircraft touched down in a corn field and contacted a ditch before coming to a stop approximately 400 feet short of the approach end of a runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection revealed that both the tip tank and the main tank were empty. The auxiliary fuel tank was found to be full. No other information regarding the aircraft or the cause of the power loss was provided in the source.