NTSB

Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off from an unimproved bean field with insufficient length for the airplane to clear adjacent corn stalks.

Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to a lack of ignition resulting from a broken alternator wire.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the lake during a low-level maneuver.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear with sufficient time to allow the landing gear to fully extend and the flight instructor’s failure to visually check to see if the right main landing gear were extended.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid transmission wires.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath on approach for landing, which resulted in an impact with a guard rail and post. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure that sufficient fuel was onboard for nonlevel flight, which resulted in fuel starvation.

Probable cause: The failure of the engine’s front bearing seal due to maintenance personnel’s installation of an improperly sized crankshaft seal, which resulted in oil starvation and a forced landing.

Probable cause: The pilot’s in-flight fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.