Feb. 8, Alma, Mich. / Piper Tomahawk

At 07:30 EST, a Piper PA-38-112 lost power near Alma and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane had departed the Chippewa County International Airport at about 05:05 and was en route to Alma. The pilot said he had flown from Alma to Chippewa County the previous day and did not refuel the aircraft prior to the accident flight. The pilot admitted to investigators that he did not calculate total fuel consumption for the trip. The pilot made a forced landing in a snow-covered field and the airplane nosed over after striking a fence line. Examination of the aircraft revealed no preexisting anomalies with the aircraft. There was no evidence of fuel at the scene.