Incident Overview
An airplane was forced to land off-airport in a field after the engine lost all power during cruise flight. The pilot, who had recently purchased the aircraft and accumulated only about 2-3 hours of flight time in it, was approximately 25 miles north of his planned destination when the power loss occurred.
Pilot Actions
Upon losing engine power, the pilot switched the fuel selector to the left position, but the engine did not restart. He noted that he did not use the electric boost pump while attempting a restart, attributing this to his lack of familiarity with the airplane. After clearing several power lines, he executed a forced landing in a sandy, dirt field.
Landing and Aftermath
During the landing rollout, more than halfway across the field, the pilot applied brake pressure. The wheels dug into the soft terrain, causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted. Following the accident, four gallons of fuel were drained from the fuel system.
Aircraft and Fuel System Details
According to the FAA-approved flight manual for the airplane, the fuel system has a total capacity of 80 gallons, with 6 gallons considered unusable. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He believed the accident resulted from fuel exhaustion.