April 7, 2012, Casper, Wyo., Piper PA-28-181 Archer

The airplane was landed in a field at about 1830 Mountain time following loss of engine power. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. After reaching cruise altitude, the pilot observed a decrease in engine oil pressure. He diverted and a few minutes later, the engine speed began to decrease, with an accompanying engine vibration. The engine eventually lost all power, and the propeller stopped rotating.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A student pilot performed an emergency landing in a field after the engine lost all power, preceded by a decrease in oil pressure and engine vibration.
The two occupants sustained minor injuries, but the airplane incurred substantial damage during the off-airport landing.
Post-incident inspection confirmed oil was present in the engine crankcase and fuel in the wing tanks, suggesting an internal engine malfunction rather than a fluid depletion.

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The airplane was landed in a field at about 1830 Mountain time following loss of engine power. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

After reaching cruise altitude, the pilot observed a decrease in engine oil pressure. He diverted and a few minutes later, the engine speed began to decrease, with an accompanying engine vibration. The engine eventually lost all power, and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot subsequently landed in a field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage. An FAA inspector reported oil remained in the engine crankcase and fuel was present in both wing tanks.