Accident/Incident Occurred on: 2000-10-21

Narrative: (-23) Lost Power enroute 4500 feet (1N9) Reading, PA (UNV) State College via (SEG) Selinsgrove, PA. Emergency off field landing in farm field, Unfortunately field was short and pilot decided to head into corn field at edge rather than trees. This caused A/C to flip. The aircraft received structural damage to the left wing. Left door forward and aft door post and landing gear box assembly. No injuries were received. Subsequent investigation revealed large particles of fuel tank sealant were flushed from the left fuel tank. Normal engine operation was noted during post crash testing. (.4) The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power about 1 hour after departure. The pilot performed a forced landing to a cornfield and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. When the airplane was uprighted during recovery, fuel poured from both fuel tanks. The engine was then started and it ran without interruption. However, examination of the fuel system revealed a handful of sloshing-sealant particles blocked the fuel strainer in the left fuel tank. Examination of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the left fuel tank was sealed with sloshing sealant during a major repair 43 years prior to the accident .

I'd have backed that VW right into that prop. Better the VW and prop get torn up than the dude on the ground. After a few strikes the engine would have quit (as it did when it hit the other aircraft).