In-flight engine failure leads to an off airport forced landing.

Attributes
ACN	309103
Time
Date	199507
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : 3c1
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 893 flight time type : 475
ASRS Report	309103
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Leaving rcr en route to 3c1, decided to practice an ILS approach at gsh. After doing so and starting a missed approach, went to the gsh VOR and held. If I had known an emergency situation was at hand, I would have landed at gsh and fueled. Not realizing I had a problem, I continued on heading back to 3c1. The engine sputtered and I knew I had a problem. My altitude was 2500 ft. I looked out and picked a field. My engine sputtered again, at this point I made a decision. I shutdown the engine stopping the propeller. It did not strike the ground. I made a good emergency landing and, if the field had not been so muddy, the airplane would be right side up with no damage. Myself and my passenger are alright, no injuries suffered, only my feelings. As for the damages to the plane, I don't know how much yet.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ENG FAILURE LEADS TO AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG.

Narrative: LEAVING RCR ENRTE TO 3C1, DECIDED TO PRACTICE AN ILS APCH AT GSH. AFTER DOING SO AND STARTING A MISSED APCH, WENT TO THE GSH VOR AND HELD. IF I HAD KNOWN AN EMER SIT WAS AT HAND, I WOULD HAVE LANDED AT GSH AND FUELED. NOT REALIZING I HAD A PROB, I CONTINUED ON HDG BACK TO 3C1. THE ENG SPUTTERED AND I KNEW I HAD A PROB. MY ALT WAS 2500 FT. I LOOKED OUT AND PICKED A FIELD. MY ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I MADE A DECISION. I SHUTDOWN THE ENG STOPPING THE PROP. IT DID NOT STRIKE THE GND. I MADE A GOOD EMER LNDG AND, IF THE FIELD HAD NOT BEEN SO MUDDY, THE AIRPLANE WOULD BE R SIDE UP WITH NO DAMAGE. MYSELF AND MY PAX ARE ALRIGHT, NO INJURIES SUFFERED, ONLY MY FEELINGS. AS FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE PLANE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YET.

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.