What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot planned VFR flight from hartington, NE, to Council Bluffs, IA. Weather was VFR until nearing destination where a cloud deck formed below aircraft and rain began in area. Weather was moving into area from the west. Attempts to communicate with omaha approach and any aircraft in the vicinity failed. Pilot tried to follow VOR radial to Council Bluffs but could not see the field due to low clouds and rain. After several attempts to find airport, engine began to lose power due to fuel exhaustion. Pilot spotted airfield three miles away, however, opted to land in field rather than stretch a glide to airfield. Landed in cornfield with under power. Upon examination of aircraft, one pint of fuel remained in aircraft fuel system and radio volume knob was found to be turned all the way to low volume. Pilot induced.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT PLANNED VFR FLIGHT FROM HARTINGTON, NE, TO COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. WEATHER WAS VFR UNTIL NEARING DESTINATION WHERE A CLOUD DECK FORMED BELOW AIRCRAFT AND RAIN BEGAN IN AREA. WEATHER WAS MOVING INTO AREA FROM THE WEST. ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OMAHA APPROACH AND ANY AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY FAILED. PILOT TRIED TO FOLLOW VOR RADIAL TO COUNCIL BLUFFS BUT COULD NOT SEE THE FIELD DUE TO LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIND AIRPORT, ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. PILOT SPOTTED AIRFIELD THREE MILES AWAY, HOWEVER, OPTED TO LAND IN FIELD RATHER THAN STRETCH A GLIDE TO AIRFIELD. LANDED IN CORNFIELD WITH UNDER POWER. UPON EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT, ONE PINT OF FUEL REMAINED IN AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM AND RADIO VOLUME KNOB WAS FOUND TO BE TURNED ALL THE WAY TO LOW VOLUME. PILOT INDUCED.
Other reports on N140MA · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.