NTSB Factual Report

On May 15, 2018, at 1457 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177 airplane, N9058F, collided with the terrain during an off airport forced landing in Fort Wayne, Indiana following a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The local flight originated from the Smith Field Airport (SMD), Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 1454.

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff as he leveled the airplane at 2,600 ft above mean sea level, the engine rpm began decreasing and he heard a "thumping" noise in the engine. He lowered the nose of the airplane to maintain 80 mph and turned back toward the airport. The thumping noise increased, and he smelled burning oil just before the engine quit. The pilot selected a field in which to land. As he approached the field, he banked to the left to avoid overrunning the landing area. As he banked, the left wingtip contacted the ground and the airplane slid sideways collapsing the nose gear until the airplane came to rest.