CHI96LA195

The pilot reported that during a descent from 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), the engine lost power. She attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. She performed a forced landing to a corn field. While landing, the nose wheel sank into soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that about 3.5 gallons of fuel were remaining, but no fuel was found in the carburetor. No other anomalies were found. The airplane had a fuel capacity of 26 gallons, of which, 22.5 gallons were considered to be usable. There were three occupants in the 2-place airplane. One passenger was occupying the right seat; the other passenger was in the back of the airplane, although it was not equipped with an optional child seat.

On June 9, 1996, at 1100 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150M, N9132U, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight it lost engine power 6 miles southwest of Red Wing, Minnesota. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and two passengers on board reported no injuries. The flight originated at Mora, Minnesota, at 1000 cdt.

In her written statement, the pilot reported descending from 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) when the engine failed. She attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. She performed a forced landing to a corn field. On landing, "the nose wheel sunk into the soft field and the airplane flipped."

The airplane was first examined by a Pierce County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Deputy, on June 9, 1996 at 1709 cdt. At that time, the pilot's husband was transporting the airplane on a flat bed truck trailer. Prior to the deputy stopping the truck for transporting a wide load without the proper "over width" markings, there had been no report of an accident involving this airplane. The examination revealed the front landing gear bent back. Examination of the cockpit fuel gauges showed low fuel quantity.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the owner's hangar on Red Wing Airport, on June 10, 1996. The examination revealed skin wrinkles throughout the wings and fuselage. The nose gear and firewall were bent up and back. The right wing rear spar was broken. One propeller blade was bent back. The other propeller blade was undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Approximately 3.5 gallons of fuel were found in the wing tanks and the gascolator. No fuel was found in the carburetor. No other anomalies were found.

The pilot reported having two passengers on board at the time of the accident, one passenger in the right seat and one in the back of the airplane. The FAA inspector's examination of the wreckage revealed that the two-place airplane was not equipped with the optional child seat in the rear cabin area.