Sequence of Events
A pilot landed at Turlock Municipal Airport after completing a solo cross-country flight from Oakland. After experiencing difficulty starting the engine, the pilot departed Turlock for Oakdale. Approximately three to five minutes later, the engine sounded "badly," prompting the pilot to make a precautionary landing at the Hawke private dirt strip.
After inspecting the engine, the pilot departed Hawke. The engine problem recurred, and the pilot decided to return to Hawke Airport. However, the pilot could not locate the airport and subsequently landed in a dry lake bed within 300 yards of the airport.
Engine Status
The pilot reported that there was no loss of engine RPM during the flight.
Location and Facilities
The incident involved a private dirt strip (Hawke) and a dry lake bed near the airport. The pilot successfully landed the aircraft in the dry lake bed, which was in close proximity to the intended destination.