Incident Details
The pilot stated that he and a passenger were en route to Opeim, Montana, when the aircraft experienced an engine failure. The pilot executed an emergency landing in an open field, during which the airplane nosed over.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal engine operation. Several spent rifle cartridges were found inside the aircraft.
Examination of the aircraft showed that the flaps were in the up position at the time of impact. Impact marks on the ground indicated that the airplane initially touched down, then struck a ravine. This caused the aircraft to become airborne again before it impacted the uphill side of the ravine and subsequently nosed over.
No further information regarding the origin of the spent cartridges or the cause of the reported engine failure was provided in the investigation.