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:

An airplane made an emergency field landing after experiencing a complete loss of engine power during cruise flight.
The engine failure was preceded by a decrease in oil pressure and vibrations, though post-landing inspection found both fuel and oil present.
The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft incurred substantial damage.

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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.