The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a fence and trees during a forced landing at 1545 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot later stated he was in cruise flight at 5000 feet when the engine started to run a little rough. A short time later he smelled fuel. He opened air vents but the smell persisted. After querying ATC on the nearest airports location, the pilot observed an open field and initiated a forced landing to the field. The engine stopped less than a minute after he informed ATC that he needed to land. The airplane touched down in the field, went through a fence, collided with trees and came to a complete stop.
January 5, 2008, Spotsylvania, Va., Cessna R172K
The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a fence and trees during a forced landing at 1545 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot later stated he was in cruise flight at 5000 feet when the engine started to run a little rough. A short time later he smelled fuel. He opened air vents but the smell persisted. After querying ATC on the nearest airports location, the pilot observed an open field and initiated a forced landing to the field. The engine stopped less than a minute after he informed ATC that he needed to land. The airplane touched down in the field, went through a fence, collided with trees and came to a complete stop.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot sustained minor injuries and his airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing.
- The forced landing was necessitated by the engine running rough and a persistent fuel smell during cruise flight.
- The aircraft collided with a fence and trees in an open field after the engine stopped just before touchdown.
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