Incident Overview
A pilot conducted a precautionary landing in a pasture after encountering fuel exhaustion. The airplane impacted terrain and struck scrub brush and a barbed wire fence, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft during the flight.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that before departure, he checked the weather, filed a flight plan, performed a preflight inspection, and verified that both fuel tanks were full. During the flight, he switched fuel tanks at regular intervals: the first switch occurred 12 minutes after departure, and subsequent switches were made every 15 to 17 minutes to maintain balanced fuel usage.
Fuel Exhaustion and Engine Performance
The pilot reported that the left tank ran out of fuel. In response, he automatically turned on the electric fuel pump and switched from the left to the right tank. The engine restarted immediately. He considered issuing a Mayday call but decided against it, reasoning that air traffic control had lost radar contact at 4,000 feet and he was at 3,500 feet. He did not want to waste fuel climbing or time setting up radios, prioritizing aviate, navigate, and communicate.
Decision for Precautionary Landing
The pilot had the radial to track back to a known airport at Hannibal but doubted he had sufficient fuel to reach it. He believed that since he had kept the tanks balanced, if the left tank emptied prematurely, the right tank would be no more than 15 minutes behind. He estimated Hannibal was at least 15 minutes away, with Monroe City closer but not in sight. Compounding the situation, the sun was setting, leaving an estimated 5 to 10 minutes of daylight. After scanning for airports with no success, he began looking for an emergency landing site. He chose a hay field with a known surface.
Landing and Damage
As the pilot approached the field, he heard a "burp" from the engine, which reinforced his decision to land. However, the field was not long enough. The aircraft rolled into scrub brush and a barbed wire fence with metal fence posts, causing substantial damage.
Summary
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. The accident involved a precautionary landing following fuel exhaustion, with the aircraft's inability to stop within the available field length leading to impact with obstacles.