What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft exper engine problems and made an emerg landing in a plowed field, fuselage broke behind the engine, (.4)at an altitude of 1000 feet above ground level (AGL) the pilot started the transition between soaring mode and powered flight mode. When completed the pilot observed that throttle movements did not produce power changes. The pilot said he picked a field for an off-airport landing and initiated a normal gliding approach to the field. Between 100 and 150 feet of the off-field landing site the pilot decided to turn into the wind, which was at a 45-degree crosswind, and the left wing tip contacted the ground in a 20-degree bank. The aircraft has a 75.5' wing span. Post accident investigation showed that there was usable fuel in both of the wing tanks. The engine and the drive train were undamaged from the accident. A test run of the engine showed that the engine started, without hesitation, and throttle response was determined to be normal. Engine controls and indications appeared to be in the normal operation limits. No other discrepancies were found. (-23) pilot shut down engine to "free glide". Had insufficent altitude to return to airport. Restart attempt of engine was unsuccessful. Picked an open field to land. On turn to final left wing struck ground causing glider to strike field hard. Fuselage of aircraft severed, extensive prop, nose & canopy damage. Minor wing tip damage.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT EXPER ENGINE PROBLEMS AND MADE AN EMERG LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD, FUSELAGE BROKE BEHIND THE ENGINE, (.4)AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) THE PILOT STARTED THE TRANSITION BETWEEN SOARING MODE AND POWERED FLIGHT MODE. WHEN COMPLETED THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THROTTLE MOVEMENTS DID NOT PRODUCE POWER CHANGES. THE PILOT SAID HE PICKED A FIELD FOR AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AND INITIATED A NORMAL GLIDING APPROACH TO THE FIELD. BETWEEN 100 AND 150 FEET OF THE OFF-FIELD LANDING SITE THE PILOT DECIDED TO TURN INTO THE WIND, WHICH WAS AT A 45-DEGREE CROSSWIND, AND THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A 20-DEGREE BANK. THE AIRCRAFT HAS A 75.5' WING SPAN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THERE WAS USABLE FUEL IN BOTH OF THE WING TANKS. THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVE TRAIN WERE UNDAMAGED FROM THE ACCIDENT. A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED, WITHOUT HESITATION, AND THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE NORMAL. ENGINE CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS APPEARED TO BE IN THE NORMAL OPERATION LIMITS. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. (-23) PILOT SHUT DOWN ENGINE TO "FREE GLIDE". HAD INSUFFICENT ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO AIRPORT. RESTART ATTEMPT OF ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PICKED AN OPEN FIELD TO LAND. ON TURN TO FINAL LEFT WING STRUCK GROUND CAUSING GLIDER TO STRIKE FIELD HARD. FUSELAGE OF AIRCRAFT SEVERED, EXTENSIVE PROP, NOSE & CANOPY DAMAGE. MINOR WING TIP DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.