This June 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza.
Location: Rockford, Ill.
Injuries: None.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was taking part in a formation flight exercise. The airplane had been in the air for approximately 10 minutes when the pilot noticed the engine hesitating when the throttle was applied. The pilot left the formation and headed back to the departure airport. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot realized he would not be able to reach the airport, so he executed a forced landing in a cornfield.
The post-accident engine examination did not reveal the cause of the power loss.
Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing.
