CHI94LA049

The student pilot was on a solo cross country flight. He was in cruise flight when the engine lost power and a forced landing was conducted to a field. The airplane nosed over. Subsequently the airplane was examined and no mechanical anomalies were found. There was approximately one quart of fuel in each tank which is less than the manufacturer's listed unusable fuel.

On December 11, 1993, at 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N6124P, registered to Clark Aviation, Inc., of Bloomington, Illinois, and operated by a student pilot, experienced a loss of engine power followed by a forced landing in a field near Cornell, Illinois. The airplane nosed over on landing and received substantial damage. The pilot reported no injuries. The solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. A VFR flight plan was on file. The flight departed Aurora, Illinois, at 1600, with the intended destination of Bloomington, Illinois.

In his written statement the pilot indicated that there was no mechanical failure in the airplane; however, he did not indicate the nature of the engine problem.

The student and flight instructor do not know how much fuel was on the airplane at the time of the original departure. The student's flight instructor stated that prior to his departure from Bloomington on the cross country flight, the student stated that he had stuck his finger in each tank and was able to detect fuel in both tanks; however, no fuel was added prior to departure. Aurora is the only known stop on the flight and no fuel was added at that stop. Straight line distance for the intended round robin trip was 158 nautical miles.

A post accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-impact mechanical problem. The airplane did remain inverted for four days; however, when turned over no evidence of fuel was found in or on the ground and approximately one quart of fuel was collected from each tank, which is less than the manufacturer's listed unusable fuel.