What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot picked up a passenger at battle creek, mi (kbtl) at 1330 and was flying back to phillipsburg, OH (3I7) when the engine stopped abruptly. He attempted an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft impacted terrain near Rockford, OH. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. Inspection of the aircraft by (cmh) FSDO inspector noted the following observations the day after the accident. Once the aircraft was leveled, the complete fuel system was drained. The collected fuel totaled less than one gallon. Engine crankshaft continuity was confirmed. The carburetor strainer was removed and inspected. No restrictions noted. Ignition proved to be operational.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT PICKED UP A PASSENGER AT BATTLE CREEK, MI (KBTL) AT 1330 AND WAS FLYING BACK TO PHILLIPSBURG, OH (3I7) WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. HE ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN NEAR ROCKFORD, OH. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY (CMH) FSDO INSPECTOR NOTED THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ONCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEVELED, THE COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DRAINED. THE COLLECTED FUEL TOTALED LESS THAN ONE GALLON. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THE CARBURETOR STRAINER WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED. NO RESTRICTIONS NOTED. IGNITION PROVED TO BE OPERATIONAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.