Accident Narrative
A pilot took off at approximately 1535 for a local flight, intending to proceed to his home in Edna, Texas. He flew to a ball field to observe friends playing baseball. After circling the field three times, he applied power and began a climb. About 30 seconds later, the engine backfired and began sputtering. The pilot established a 65-knot glide and initiated restart procedures, but the engine quit completely and the propeller stopped.
A grass field was selected for landing, and the aircraft was sideslipped on final approach. The pilot reported that at about 50 feet above ground level, he ran out of room, stalled completely, and the right wing dropped approximately 30 degrees. The aircraft came to rest about 25 to 30 feet from the initial impact point.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the engine revealed no pre-impact discrepancies except that the muffler baffles were burned and a hole was noted in the muffler. Additionally, the left magneto would not fire. The engine ran successfully after the damaged carburetor was replaced.