What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On September 4, 1999, at 1218 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 172, N2972U, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees and terrain while approaching a field during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported serious injuries. The 14 CFR part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight departed apple river, Illinois, at 1130 CDT. According to the pilot, the airplane was flying about 2,000 feet above mean sea level when its engine started missing. He said shortly after the engine began missing it made a loud bang and stopped running. The pilot said he picked a field for the forced landing and realized the airplane was too high to land in that field. He said he chose another field and turned toward it. While on approach to that field the airplane collided with trees and the ground, according to the pilot. Law enforcement personnel responding to the accident said they observed about 10 gallons of fuel in one of airplanes' wing tanks. The on-scene law enforcement supervisor said he also smelled fuel and saw it dripping from the other wing. (-23)pilot experienced complete engine failure in flight. Attempted to land in field. A/c struck tops of several trees during landing phase. Came to rest on corn field inverted.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1999, AT 1218 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A CESSNA 172, N2972U, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN WHILE APPROACHING A FIELD DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED APPLE RIVER, ILLINOIS, AT 1130 CDT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING ABOUT 2,000 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN ITS ENGINE STARTED MISSING. HE SAID SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN MISSING IT MADE A LOUD BANG AND STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT SAID HE PICKED A FIELD FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND IN THAT FIELD. HE SAID HE CHOSE ANOTHER FIELD AND TURNED TOWARD IT. WHILE ON APPROACH TO THAT FIELD THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO THE ACCIDENT SAID THEY OBSERVED ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN ONE OF AIRPLANES' WING TANKS. THE ON-SCENE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR SAID HE ALSO SMELLED FUEL AND SAW IT DRIPPING FROM THE OTHER WING. (-23)PILOT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT. ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIELD. A/C STRUCK TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES DURING LANDING PHASE. CAME TO REST ON CORN FIELD INVERTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.