A C172XP PLT MADE AN EMER LNDG 20 NM SE OF TAS VORTAC; AFTER THE ENG SEIZED.

Narrative

I DID A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF MY ACFT; FINDING NO PROBS. SUMPED FUEL ON BOTH TANKS. NO WATER SEDIMENT. PROPER FUEL GRADE USED. BOTH OIL AND STRAINER WERE CHKED AND WERE OK. NORMAL START-UP PROCS WERE FOLLOWED. I THEN TAXIED TO RWY 22 AND DID A NORMAL RUN-UP TO 1800 RPM; ADJUSTED MIXTURE; CYCLED PROP. CHKED MAGNETOS. THE DROP WAS ABOUT 50 AND THE DIFFERENCE BTWN BOTH LESS THAN 50. AMMETER AND ENG INSTS; SUCTION WERE ALL GOOD. TKOF WAS NORMAL WITH DEP TO SE. I CLBED TO 2000 FT AGL; AND WAS IN CRUISE FOR 10 MINS; THEN EXPERIENCED LOSS OF PWR. I THEN TURNED BACK TOWARDS ARPT. BEGAN EMER PROCS FOR AN ENG OUT. I RECHKED FUEL ON BOTH SIDES; TRIED BOTH MIXTURE AND THROTTLE. I CYCLED THE FUEL SHUTOFF. TRIED A RESTART; NOTHING HAPPENED. NOW AT 1000 FT AGL AND KNOWING I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACH TAOS ARPT (SKX); BEGAN TO LOOK FOR BEST PLACE TO LAND AIRPLANE. I CHOSE A FIELD BELOW THE LCL RADIO STATION. USED FULL FLAPS. I WAS LNDG WITH A TAILWIND. LANDED ACFT; NO DAMAGE. NO INJURIES TO MYSELF. I THEN WALKED TO THE NEAREST PHONE AND CALLED AUTHORITIES TO TELL THEM I WAS OK. I TRIED CALLING THE FBO TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE INCIDENT; BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THEM. I THEN RETURNED TO ACFT TO WAIT FOR THE POLICE.