What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 7, 2002 at approximately 20:00 local time, david marx, pilot of a Piper tri-pacer, PA-22, N8910D experienced a rough running engine. Attempts to correct the problem failed. He elected to land the aircraft in a smooth farm field. The aircraft overran the field striking a barb wire fence. The nose gear collapsed, the left wing was substantially damaged, the firewall buckled, the prop was damaged and cabin became distorted. Two passengers received minor injuries. Mr. Marx did not have a valid medical or current flight review. Investigation revealed a "stuck" valve on one cylinder. No other engine discrepancies were noted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 7, 2002 AT APPROXIMATELY 20:00 LOCAL TIME, DAVID MARX, PILOT OF A PIPER TRI-PACER, PA-22, N8910D EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FAILED. HE ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN A SMOOTH FARM FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE FIELD STRIKING A BARB WIRE FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE LEFT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, THE FIREWALL BUCKLED, THE PROP WAS DAMAGED AND CABIN BECAME DISTORTED. TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. MR. MARX DID NOT HAVE A VALID MEDICAL OR CURRENT FLIGHT REVIEW. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A "STUCK" VALVE ON ONE CYLINDER. NO OTHER ENGINE DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.