Event Description
During a night forced landing practice, the aircraft collided with a ditch approximately 75 yards short of Runway 13. The private pilot, aged 18 and an employee of the fixed-base operator (FBO) that owned the aircraft, had taken the aircraft without authorization. He had been flying for about 1.7 hours at the time of the accident.
Pilot's Account
The pilot informed police officers and the operator that he was practicing forced landings. During these exercises, he would turn off the magnetos and execute the approach to the end of the runway. He reported that on a short final approach, the propeller stopped turning. While attempting to restart the engine, the aircraft struck the ground short of the runway.
Circumstances
The accident occurred at night. The aircraft was not authorized for the flight. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or injuries were provided in the initial report.