Small aircraft has engine failure, lands in field just short of airport.

Attributes
ACN	247293
Time
Date	199307
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 04y
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1208 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 43 flight time total : 168 flight time type : 43
ASRS Report	247293
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was flying along at 8500 ft and switched to right tip tank. Note: all tanks had plenty of fuel and I was full on the right tip tank. Engine cut out shortly after switching to right tip. I immediately hit my RNAV to locate nearest airport (hawley, mn) approximately 15 mi away. I made a turn to the right and headed toward hawley. Switched to both left and right mains and went through published emergency procedures checklist. I was unable to restart engine. Located suitable landing site and prepared to land. Just prior to touchdown, the engine restarted, however, the sink rate was too great, and we landed in the muddy field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS ENG FAILURE, LANDS IN FIELD JUST SHORT OF ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING ALONG AT 8500 FT AND SWITCHED TO R TIP TANK. NOTE: ALL TANKS HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND I WAS FULL ON THE R TIP TANK. ENG CUT OUT SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING TO R TIP. I IMMEDIATELY HIT MY RNAV TO LOCATE NEAREST ARPT (HAWLEY, MN) APPROX 15 MI AWAY. I MADE A TURN TO THE R AND HEADED TOWARD HAWLEY. SWITCHED TO BOTH L AND R MAINS AND WENT THROUGH PUBLISHED EMER PROCS CHKLIST. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART ENG. LOCATED SUITABLE LNDG SITE AND PREPARED TO LAND. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE ENG RESTARTED, HOWEVER, THE SINK RATE WAS TOO GREAT, AND WE LANDED IN THE MUDDY FIELD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.