Event SEA83LA079

Factual narrative

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED OREGON CITY EARLIER TO FLY TO EVERGREEN AIRPORT TO FUEL THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN TO RETURN TO OREGON CITY. AFTER FUELING HE STARTED THE RETURN FLIGHT. EARLY IN THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PASTURE. THE ACFT HIT A FENCE AND THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN DURING ROLLOUT AND COLLAPSED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTDOORS AT EVERGREEN DURING THE WINTER WITH ONLY 2 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE MAIN WING TANKS. THE FUSELAGE TANK HAD BEEN KEPT FULL AND PROVIDED A TROUBLE-FREE FLIGHT TO EVERGREEN WHERE THE MAIN TANKS WER FILLED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE GASCOLATOR BOWL WAS DRAINED AND YEILDED ABOUT A TEASPOON OF WATER. THE PILOT STATED HE KEPT MINUMUM FUEL IN THE WING TANKS AT OREGON CITY BECAUSE OF FUEL THEFT. HE HAD NOT CHECKED THE TANKS FOR WATER AFTER FUELING. NO WATER WAS FOUND IN THE EVERGREEN FUEL SUPPLY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12