A C172XP pilot made an emergency landing 20 NM southeast of TAS VORTAC, after the engine seized.

Attributes
ACN	574519
Time
Date	200302
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	NM
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 152
ASRS Report	574519
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical ground encounters other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I did a complete inspection of my aircraft, finding no problems. Sumped fuel on both tanks. No water sediment. Proper fuel grade used. Both oil and strainer were checked and were ok. Normal start-up procedures were followed. I then taxied to runway 22 and did a normal run-up to 1800 RPM, adjusted mixture, cycled propeller. Checked magnetos. The drop was about 50 and the difference between both less than 50. Ammeter and engine instruments, suction were all good. Takeoff was normal with departure to southeast. I climbed to 2000 ft AGL, and was in cruise for 10 mins, then experienced loss of power. I then turned back towards airport. Began emergency procedures for an engine out. I rechked fuel on both sides, tried both mixture and throttle. I cycled the fuel shutoff. Tried a restart, nothing happened. Now at 1000 ft AGL and knowing I would not be able to reach taos airport (skx), began to look for best place to land airplane. I chose a field below the local radio station. Used full flaps. I was landing with a tailwind. Landed aircraft, no damage. No injuries to myself. I then walked to the nearest phone and called authorities to tell them I was ok. I tried calling the FBO to notify them of the incident, but was unable to reach them. I then returned to aircraft to wait for the police.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172XP PLT MADE AN EMER LNDG 20 NM SE OF TAS VORTAC, AFTER THE ENG SEIZED.

Narrative: I DID A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF MY ACFT, FINDING NO PROBS. SUMPED FUEL ON BOTH TANKS. NO WATER SEDIMENT. PROPER FUEL GRADE USED. BOTH OIL AND STRAINER WERE CHKED AND WERE OK. NORMAL START-UP PROCS WERE FOLLOWED. I THEN TAXIED TO RWY 22 AND DID A NORMAL RUN-UP TO 1800 RPM, ADJUSTED MIXTURE, CYCLED PROP. CHKED MAGNETOS. THE DROP WAS ABOUT 50 AND THE DIFFERENCE BTWN BOTH LESS THAN 50. AMMETER AND ENG INSTS, SUCTION WERE ALL GOOD. TKOF WAS NORMAL WITH DEP TO SE. I CLBED TO 2000 FT AGL, AND WAS IN CRUISE FOR 10 MINS, THEN EXPERIENCED LOSS OF PWR. I THEN TURNED BACK TOWARDS ARPT. BEGAN EMER PROCS FOR AN ENG OUT. I RECHKED FUEL ON BOTH SIDES, TRIED BOTH MIXTURE AND THROTTLE. I CYCLED THE FUEL SHUTOFF. TRIED A RESTART, NOTHING HAPPENED. NOW AT 1000 FT AGL AND KNOWING I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACH TAOS ARPT (SKX), BEGAN TO LOOK FOR BEST PLACE TO LAND AIRPLANE. I CHOSE A FIELD BELOW THE LCL RADIO STATION. USED FULL FLAPS. I WAS LNDG WITH A TAILWIND. LANDED ACFT, NO DAMAGE. NO INJURIES TO MYSELF. I THEN WALKED TO THE NEAREST PHONE AND CALLED AUTHORITIES TO TELL THEM I WAS OK. I TRIED CALLING THE FBO TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE INCIDENT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THEM. I THEN RETURNED TO ACFT TO WAIT FOR THE POLICE.

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.