BFO95LA096

The pilot reported that he diverted from his intended destination because of radio problems. He stated that the airplane was in the airport traffic pattern when there was a loss of engine power. He performed a forced landing in a field of (tall) corn, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot rated passenger reported that when they were '...in the landing pattern the engine sputtered and quit because we ran out of fuel...switched to the second tank...the engine restarted for about 30 seconds...the engine again shut down because the second tank was also out of fuel.' Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. About one to two cups of fuel was drained from the wing fuel tanks, and approximately one ounce of fuel was drained from the carburetor bowl. The fuel tanks were intact, and no evidence of fuel leakage was found at the accident site.

On September 19, 1995, at 0920 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Grumman AA-1B, N1424R, made a forced landing in a cornfield near Medina, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and the pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Centerburg, Ohio, at 0806 EDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The intended destination was Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) in Cleveland, Ohio.

The pilot reported that he was en route to his destination when he contacted the BKL Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) to report his position, and state his intentions to land. He stated that the tower informed him that his radio transmissions were unclear. The pilot stated that he decided to divert, and land at Freedom Field, in Medina, Ohio, (approximately 25 miles south of his destination) to have the radios examined. He stated that when the airplane was in the airport traffic pattern in Medina, there was a loss of engine power. He stated that the engine power increased briefly when he switched fuel tanks, but when the airplane was on short final approach for the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he cleared power lines located on the approach to the runway by flying under the wires. He performed a forced landing in a cornfield, and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot rated passenger stated that he accompanied the pilot on the accident flight to assist with the radios. He reported that they "...decided to land at Freedom Field to have the radios checked. In the landing pattern the engine sputtered and quit because we ran out of fuel...switched to the second tank and the engine restarted for about 30 seconds. The engine again shut down because the second tank was also out of fuel."

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that he drained about one ounce of fuel from the carburetor bowl, and approximately one to two cups of fuel from each of the wing fuel tanks. He stated that the fuel tanks were found intact and undamaged, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage at the accident. The FAA Inspector also stated that compression was confirmed in all four engine cylinders, and the magnetos appeared capable of normal operation.