Accident Overview
A pilot of a Piper PA22 was practicing departures from a confined private airstrip. According to the pilot, the aircraft's engine had been operating normally, and he had been flying in the area for approximately the previous half hour. While climbing out from the private strip, the engine quit, prompting the pilot to execute a forced landing to a field just beyond a row of tall trees.
Post-Accident Inspection
Following the accident, an inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical discrepancy or failure of any flight control or engine component. The aircraft was equipped with a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) allowing the use of automotive fuel, and sufficient uncontaminated fuel was on board at the time of the accident.
Impact Details
The pilot had a generous area in which to land, but the aircraft impacted with sufficient force to collapse the landing gear and the left wing. The aircraft came to rest in a flat pitch attitude approximately 100 feet beyond the treeline.
Conclusion
No probable cause was determined based on the available information.