Incident
On August 16, at 0940 central daylight time, a Cessna 182C, registration N8643T, collided with terrain during an off-airport forced landing in Sparta, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.
Flight Details
The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane had last departed Danville-Vermillion County Airport (DNV) in Danville, Illinois, at 0845.
The pilot reported originally departing Warsaw, Indiana, at about 0730. The airplane contained approximately 45 gallons of usable fuel. During the flight, the "service oil filter screen" light illuminated, prompting a diversion to DNV. At DNV, the pilot removed and cleaned the oil filter screen and changed the oil before departing for Sparta Community Airport (SAR).
While descending into SAR, the pilot used 15 inches of manifold pressure. Upon reaching traffic pattern altitude, he attempted to add power but could not. The fuel gauges indicated remaining fuel, and the propeller was windmilling before stopping. The pilot initiated an off-airport landing in a retail parking lot. During the landing, the nose gear separated, causing firewall damage, and the left main gear collapsed upon impact. The airplane then slid into a ditch, where it came to rest.
Post-Accident Inspection
Inspection revealed the airplane resting with the right wing higher than the left. The right wing contained no fuel, and the left wing held less than four gallons of fuel. The gascolator separated from the airplane due to impact, and no evidence of fuel leakage was found at the accident site.