Accident Overview
On May 6, 2023, at approximately 1307 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N678FL, was substantially damaged when it experienced an engine power loss and made a forced landing into a cornfield near Clyde, Ohio. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Sequence
The pilot departed Fremont Airport (14G), Fremont, Ohio, at 1150. He performed a touch-and-go landing at Fostoria Metro Airport (FZI), Fostoria, Ohio, and planned another touch-and-go at Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24) before returning to his home airport at 14G. After an uneventful touch-and-go at S24, during the initial climb, the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing into a cornfield approximately half a mile northeast of S24. First responders met the pilot, who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Post-Accident Examination
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the wreckage. The fuselage came to rest upright with no fire. The right wing separated from the fuselage during impact and was found inverted adjacent to the main wreckage, with the right main landing gear still attached. The fuselage was buckled. The engine remained attached, and the propeller was secured. The left wing was undamaged.
Fuel examination revealed the right wing fuel tank was ruptured from impact, and about 7 gallons of fuel were recovered from it. The left wing fuel tank was intact and undamaged; draining yielded about 1 quart of fuel. The cockpit fuel tank selector was found in the left tank position.
The wreckage was moved to a hangar for further examination. The engine contained about 4 quarts of clean oil with no visible damage. Internal engine continuity was confirmed, and valve action was correct. The fuel gascolator was dry and contained small, black particulates. The engine-driven fuel pump expelled a few drops when actuated by hand; its interior appeared normal. The carburetor air box was unobstructed. The carburetor bowl was free of contaminants and held about 1 tablespoon of fuel; brass floats were uncompromised. The electric fuel boost pump functioned normally when powered by the aircraft battery. The fuel tank selector valve operated normally upon disassembly.
Pilot Statement
The pilot later reported uncertainty about why the engine stopped but suggested that it “could be a failure to switch tanks.”
Fueling History
According to FAA inspectors, the airplane was last fueled with 18.8 gallons on March 30, 2023. Aircraft and pilot records indicate the airplane was operated about 3.97 hours since that refueling.