IAD96LA123

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 3500 feet, '...the engine lost power, propeller continued to windmill. All seemed normal except no power.' The pilot stated that he used his Global Positioning System receiver to look for an airport within gliding distance and found none. He said he notified air traffic control and '...picked wheat stubble field to land. We were low and had to avoid a tree - swung too wide and came down in corn which turned out to be 10 to 12 ft tall. It was a hard landing. Nose wheel broke off. Left landing gear broke. Came to rest with left wing tip on ground.' During a postaccident examination, the engine was visually inspected, and a run-up was conducted. The engine would only run when the mixture control was in an excessively lean position. The carburetor was flow checked and the results were within specification. An inspection of the carburetor did not reveal a mechanical discrepancy.

On July 25, 1996, at 1134 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6169R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a cornfield, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The airplane departed Gordonsville, West Virginia, at approximately 1040, with an intended destination of Saxtons River, Vermont.

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 3500 feet, "...the engine lost power, propeller continued to windmill. All seemed normal except no power." The pilot stated that he used his Global Positioning System receiver to look for an airport within gliding distance and found none. He said he notified Dulles Approach Control and "...picked wheat stubble field to land. We were low and had to avoid a tree - swung too wide and came down in corn which turned out to be 10 to 12 ft tall. It was a hard landing. Nose wheel broke off. Left landing gear broke. Came to rest with left wing tip on ground."

A post accident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness). According to the Inspector's statement, "Engine was visually inspected and a post accident engine run-up was performed. Upon completion, found engine would only stay running when mixture control was in an excessively lean position. Suspect a fuel metering problem."