Incident Overview
An airplane suffered a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot subsequently executed a landing in a field, during which the aircraft nosed over. The landing was described as slow and occurred in a soybean field with soft ground and heavy foliage.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported, "Engine stopped, I believe due to auto fuel use in extreme hot weather. - A slow touchdown was made in a soybean field. The aircraft nosed over in the soft ground and heavy foliage. - Not flying in high [temperatures] with this fuel would have prevented this." The use of automobile fuel in the aircraft had been approved.
Weather Conditions
A nearby weather station recorded the temperature as 30 degrees Celsius and the dew point as 24 degrees Celsius at the time of the incident.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. No mechanical issues were found that would explain the power loss.
Conclusion
The incident involved an engine stoppage during cruise, a forced landing in a field, and a subsequent nose over. The pilot attributed the power loss to the use of automobile fuel in high temperatures, though the fuel type was approved for use. The examination found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure.