What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 15, 2025, at approximately 10:00 am CDT, aircraft privacy data omitted departed from C73 dixon municipal airport en route to 1C8 cottonwood airport in rockford, IL under VFR conditions with over 10 miles of visibility and winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots. While cruising at 1,800 feet MSL, the pilot noticed the ignition key falling out of the ignition. The pilot made the decision to reseat the key. In the attempt to reseat the key, the pilot inadvertently moved it to the "off" position, causing the engine to shut down. While attempting to restart the engine, the key broke inside the ignition, preventing a restart. With no power available, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a field near Byron, IL. The pilot was not injured however, the aircraft sustained damage upon landing.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 15, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM CDT, AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED FROM C73 DIXON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT EN ROUTE TO 1C8 COTTONWOOD AIRPORT IN ROCKFORD, IL UNDER VFR CONDITIONS WITH OVER 10 MILES OF VISIBILITY AND WINDS FROM 240 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. WHILE CRUISING AT 1,800 FEET MSL, THE PILOT NOTICED THE IGNITION KEY FALLING OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO RESEAT THE KEY. IN THE ATTEMPT TO RESEAT THE KEY, THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY MOVED IT TO THE "OFF" POSITION, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE KEY BROKE INSIDE THE IGNITION, PREVENTING A RESTART. WITH NO POWER AVAILABLE, THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR BYRON, IL. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE UPON LANDING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.