What happened
While flying at 1,100 feet mean sea level, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane noticed that the engine oil pressure had dropped below 20 pounds. As the pilot was returning to a private airstrip, he decided to prepare for an emergency landing and began a descent into a large wheat field selected for its suitability for an off-airport touchdown.
During the approach to the field, the pilot reported that the engine began to flutter. Upon contacting the ground, the aircraft's tires became entangled in the tall wheat, causing the airplane to flip over. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft at the accident site. The inspection revealed that the left wing spar was bent and the engine firewall had been displaced. The inspector noted that there were no visible wheel marks on the ground, as the wheels became caught in the tall wheat, which led to the nose-over. The specific reason for the initial loss of engine power could not be determined.
Findings
The investigation identified that the aircraft's wheels became trapped in the tall wheat during the landing attempt, resulting in a nose-over. Weather conditions at the time included winds from 360 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots, with 10 statute miles of visibility and clear skies.