Accident Details
A student pilot and a passenger departed in a single-engine airplane when the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to switch the fuel selector to the fuller fuel tank while executing a left-hand turn back toward the airport. Unable to maintain altitude, the aircraft landed hard in a cornfield.
Damage
The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and left wing spar.
Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that both fuel tanks were intact and contained some fuel. However, the fuel was not drained to test for contamination or to determine the exact quantity in each tank. Engine continuity was confirmed by manually rotating the propeller, and no obvious mechanical deficiencies were found.