FLT INSTRUCTOR; WITH A STUDENT PLT; IN A PIPER PA28; WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN OFF ARPT LNDG IN AN OPEN FIELD 20 MI FROM THE ARPT WHEN AFTER SIMULATING AN ENG FAILURE THE MAGNETO SWITCH FAILED IN THE OFF POS.

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REGARDING THE OCCURRENCE DATED DEC/XA/99; THIS IS MY ACCOUNT AS I RECALL. APPROX 45 MINS AFTER TKOF IN SMA WITH STUDENT PLT IN THE L SEAT AND I IN THE R; I DECIDED TO SIMULATE AN EMER APCH AND LNDG DUE TO THE LOSS OF PWR. LOSS OF ENG PWR WAS SIMULATED BY BRINGING THE THROTTLE CTL TO THE IDLE POS. STUDENT ESTABLISHED A GLIDE AT 85 MPH AND MADE THE DECISION TO LAND APPROX 20 MI S OF GILLETTE ON THE BISHOP ROAD. HE THEN PROMPTLY WENT THROUGH THE EMER RESTART PROCS. AS HE CAME TO THE IGNITION PORTION OF THE PROC; I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THERE WAS A REMOTE CHANCE OF AN IGNITION SWITCH OR MAGNETO FAILURE THAT MIGHT POSSIBLY BE SOLVED BY CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE R OR L POS. I TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE THIS TO STUDENT BUT IN THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING THE IGNITION TO THE R POS; I INADVERTENTLY SWITCHED THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POS. REALIZING WHAT I HAD DONE; I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO TURN THE SWITCH BACK TO THE ON POS; BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. WE THEN CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO LNDG WHILE TRYING TO MEND THE SIT. UNABLE TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MOVE FROM THE OFF POS; I SECURED THE ENG AND LANDED SAFELY IN FIELD APPROX 20 MI SE OF GILLETTE; WY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONS AND NO DAMAGE TO PLANE OR PROPERTY.