Accident Overview
A pilot was returning to land after completing an air drop of skydivers. During the final approach, the pilot added power to maintain altitude and obstacle clearance. The engine then "quit without sputter," leading to a forced landing.
Sequence of Events
The pilot made a forced landing in a field covered with sagebrush. The airplane struck the ground, slid down a gully, and subsequently struck a tree. The impact resulted in significant structural damage.
Aircraft Damage
The collision with terrain and the tree separated the airplane's nose landing gear, displaced the engine and engine mount, and buckled the aft fuselage and firewall.
Post-Accident Observations
After extracting the airplane from the gully, the pilot visually checked the fuel quantity. The inspection revealed that there were 10 gallons of fuel in each wing tank. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 31 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 7 degrees Celsius.