N43JW

On July 22, 1998, approximately 1230 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Wiles Pitts S1-C, N43JW, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Yelm, Washington, after fuel exhaustion. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no fire.

The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that he ran out of fuel while on a flight from Arlington, Washington, and he initiated a forced landing into a field about a mile from Western Airpark, which was his final destination. He noted that he had approximately 12 gallons of fuel on board when he departed Arlington, and that he had overflown Auburn, Washington, where he had originally intended to land. When he realized he would have to make an off-airport landing, he selected a hay field about a mile north of the airport, touched down and got into some tall grass. The airplane nosed over onto its back.