Accident Details
The pilot of an airplane made a forced landing into an open, uneven dirt field approximately 6 miles from the destination airport. The airplane touched down hard during the landing.
Approximately 20 miles from the airport, the airplane's engine had sputtered. In response, the pilot repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite wing fuel tank. Thereafter, the engine operated smoothly until the pilot contacted the tower for his approach.
On approach, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Responding rescue personnel reported that they observed no evidence of fuel in the airplane, and no evidence of fuel was in the ground surrounding the airplane.
The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction or failure during the accident flight. He also indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he topped off the main fuel tanks prior to initiating the flight.