What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 2, 2003, at approximately 1115 CDT, Piper N251BC made a forced landing approximately 45 miles west of Alpine Texas. The flight, which originated from the Alpine municipal airport, was conducted under VMC. The pilot stated that at approximately 10,500 feet the engine began to run rough. He then executed an emergency landing on a dirt road. During roll-out the left and right wings struck cacti plants causing damage to the leading edge of the right wing and collapsing the left main landing gear. No injuries were reported. External inspection of the engine revealed a bulge and crack in the upper engine case near the #1 cylinder. This may indicate failure of the #1 connecting rod.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 2, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 CDT, PIPER N251BC MADE A FORCED LANDING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES WEST OF ALPINE TEXAS. THE FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE ALPINE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, WAS CONDUCTED UNDER VMC. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 10,500 FEET THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE THEN EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. DURING ROLL-OUT THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS STRUCK CACTI PLANTS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING AND COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. EXTERNAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BULGE AND CRACK IN THE UPPER ENGINE CASE NEAR THE #1 CYLINDER. THIS MAY INDICATE FAILURE OF THE #1 CONNECTING ROD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.