What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Emergency landing due to catastrophic engine failure. Number 3 and 5 cylinder connecting rods failed. (.19) on August 6, 2001, at 1035 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N5481T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a soybean field after a loss of power. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR part 91 pleasure flight had departed meigs field (cgx), chicago, Illinois, at 0945, en route to batten airport (rac), Racine, Wisconsin. Approximately 8 miles south of rac, the airplane lost power and a forced landing was accomplished. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) EMERGENCY LANDING DUE TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NUMBER 3 AND 5 CYLINDER CONNECTING RODS FAILED. (.19) ON AUGUST 6, 2001, AT 1035 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-32-300, N5481T, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING TO A SOYBEAN FIELD AFTER A LOSS OF POWER. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED MEIGS FIELD (CGX), CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AT 0945, EN ROUTE TO BATTEN AIRPORT (RAC), RACINE, WISCONSIN. APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES SOUTH OF RAC, THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.