What happened
The pilot departed from Ft Smith, Arkansas, climbing to an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (AGL). He then leveled off and followed a river toward some property located approximately five miles away. During this phase of flight, the engine began to sputter and run irregularly. The pilot executed a precautionary landing in a nearby field. Afterward, he performed a thorough engine run-up and checked all systems, which appeared normal. Suspecting that the engine may have ingested water, he decided to take off again and fly to Hardin, Montana.
Approximately two minutes after takeoff, the engine began sputtering and running irregularly once more. The pilot attempted to restore power but could not achieve any improvement. He was forced to make an emergency landing in a field located beyond some power lines. While applying heavy brakes to stop before reaching a ditch, the aircraft nosed over.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft and engine was conducted after the incident. Despite the thorough inspection, no cause for the power loss was found during the mechanical analysis.
Findings
The primary outcome of this event was the structural damage resulting from the nose-over. The pilot's decision to continue flight after a precautionary landing, despite an initial irregular engine performance, contributed to the sequence of events leading to the forced landing and subsequent ground impact.