19981002027979A

Acft lost engine power after takeoff, made an emergency landing in field, wing struck a tree and partially came off. (.19)on October 2, 1998, about 1411 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N78624, was substantially damaged as it impacted a tree during a forced landing after takeoff from the Geauga County Airport (7G8), Middlefield, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditons prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated from 7G8, about 1408. The pilot reported that the prior owner of the airplane flew to 7G8, picked him up, and returned to ashtabula county airport (7G2), about 10 minutes away. Once there, the pilot purchased the airplane. After receiving the airplane's logbooks, the pilot departed 7G2, and flew in the local area for about an hour. Upon returning to 7G8,the pilot completed one touch and go landing, and a full stop landing. While taxiing to his hangar, the pilot decided to do one more takeoff and landing. The pilot reported that the airplane was to be based at a grass runway, and he wanted to see the performance of the airplane with a 180 hors epower engine. The pilot recalled that he was focused on the runway markers and airspeed as he took off, and really had the airplane "cranked up" (nose up attitude), when the engine lost power between 200 to 300 feet. The pilot stated that he was past midfield with power line and a gas station at the end of the runway, and he made a left 90 degree turn. Faced with a hangar and parked airplanes, the pilot turned toward an open field, making a right 45 degree turn to land on the field diagonally. Once on the ground, the pilot could not get the airplane stopped prior to hitting one of the trees forming a border around the field. He stated that the left wing hit the tree, whipped the airplane around, and came to rest in a ditch with the airplane's empennage sticking into a road. The airplane remained upright and was towed to a hangar until it could be examined by the federal aviation administration. Federal aviation administration inspectors examined the wreckage on October 5, 1998. They stated that the left wing, outboard of the support strut, was broken and folded back, the right wing tip was crushed, and the windscreen was broken. The inspectors reported that the engine had drive train continutiy, and compression was obtained from the cylinders. The spark plugs appeared new and spark was obtained from the magnetos. The inspectors stated that the fuel tanks maintained their integrity, and they drained a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel from both fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane prior to departing 7G2, with both fuel gauges indicating about 1/4 tank. He stated that he did not visually check the fuel tanks during his inspection, and was not sure when the airplane was last fueled. He reported that the previous owner informed him that the fuel gauges read low, and he took that to mean there was more fuel in the tanks than what the gauges indicated. (-23) pilot indicated he departed 7G8 (Geauga County Airport) and the engine lost power. Turned back toward airport and landed in adjacent field. Hit tree shortly after touchdown on rollout.