What happened
A student pilot was conducting her second solo flight, which included a plan for touch-and-go landings followed by departing the airport to the south for air work. After completing the planned maneuvers, the pilot attempted to return to the airport but reported difficulty locating the field, noting she may have overflew it.
Upon rediscovering the airport, the pilot became concerned regarding both local traffic and the aircraft's fuel status. During the final approach, the pilot noted that the aircraft was too low, evidenced by both VASI lights displaying red. At this moment, the pilot observed that the engine did not sound correct. In an attempt to correct the low altitude, the pilot pulled back on the controls, resulting in a stall.
The investigation
An airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale (Arizona) Flight Standards District Office (FAA) performed an inspection of the aircraft following the accident. The investigation found no mechanical reason for the engine to have lost power during the flight.