What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On March 8, 2002, at 1202 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N742, lost engine power on final approach for the Winnemucca municipal airport (wmc), Winnemucca, Nevada, and came to rest inverted in an open field. The airplane, operated by the us department of agriculture (usda) under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91, was substantially damage. The commercial pilot and a non-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area animal control flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed wmc about 0600 the morning of the accident. During an interview, the pilot stated that they had been flying for about 5.5 hours. While on the landing approach for the final landing of the day, the engine began running roughly. It subsequently quit, and a forced landing was made in an open field. The pilot stated that he fueled the airplane to capacity before the day's initial takeoff. Normally, he reported, the airplane is flown between 5 and 6 hours for each flight. He also stated that there had been no previous mechanical discrepancies with the airplane. (-23) when returning to wmc the engine quit 1 mile north north east of the airport. Alternate air applied and fuel selector moved to different position (pilot statement) and the engine started running then quit again. A forced landing was initiated in a field and the aircraft came to rest inverted after impacting some brush and dirt mound.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON MARCH 8, 2002, AT 1202 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-18-150, N742, LOST ENGINE POWER ON FINAL APPROACH FOR THE WINNEMUCCA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (WMC), WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE, OPERATED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND A NON-RATED PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA ANIMAL CONTROL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WMC ABOUT 0600 THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING AN INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN FLYING FOR ABOUT 5.5 HOURS. WHILE ON THE LANDING APPROACH FOR THE FINAL LANDING OF THE DAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGHLY. IT SUBSEQUENTLY QUIT, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FUELED THE AIRPLANE TO CAPACITY BEFORE THE DAY'S INITIAL TAKEOFF. NORMALLY, HE REPORTED, THE AIRPLANE IS FLOWN BETWEEN 5 AND 6 HOURS FOR EACH FLIGHT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) WHEN RETURNING TO WMC THE ENGINE QUIT 1 MILE NORTH NORTH EAST OF THE AIRPORT. ALTERNATE AIR APPLIED AND FUEL SELECTOR MOVED TO DIFFERENT POSITION (PILOT STATEMENT) AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING THEN QUIT AGAIN. A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED IN A FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AFTER IMPACTING SOME BRUSH AND DIRT MOUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.