CHI99LA186

A loss of engine power was experienced approximately 30 minutes after takeoff. The airplane touched down in a corn field and contacted a ditch prior to coming to a stop about 400 feet short of the approach end of a runway. The pilot stated that the engine 'coughed' and he turned on the fuel boost pumps. The engine ran briefly prior to totally losing power. The pilot switched to the auxiliary fuel tank, but was unable to get the engine started. Post accident inspection revealed the tip and main tanks were empty, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full. The landing gear and flaps were extended during the forced landing descent.

On June 16, 1999, at 1600 central daylight time (cdt), a North American Navion L-17A, N109F, operated by a private pilot, collided with the terrain after undershooting the runway during a forced landing in Osceola, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Anoka, Minnesota, at 1530 cdt, and was destined for Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

The pilot reported that during the aircraft preflight he observed that the main fuel tank was half full and the auxiliary tank was full. He reported that he departed Anoka County and after 35 minutes of flight time the engine "coughed" and he immediately turned toward the airport in Osceola. He reported he was six to eight miles away from the airport at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level and he planned to land on runway 28. The pilot reported he turned on the fuel boost pumps and the engine started briefly twice. He switched to the auxiliary fuel tank and was unable to get the engine started. The pilot reported, "... I realized that we were not going to make it to the runway. The successful forced landing through a corn field was interrupted by a shallow ditch that brought the aircraft to a stop approximately 400 feet short of runway 28."

A post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that both the tip and main fuel tanks were empty, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full of fuel. The inspector reported the airplane initially impacted the terrain approximately 1,000 feet short of the approach end of the runway and that the landing gear and flaps were extended.