What happened
The pilot was operating at cruise altitude when smoke was observed emanating from the engine. Following this observation, the pilot performed a precautionary landing. Upon inspection on the ground, the pilot noted that the oil cap was loose; he subsequently tightened the cap and verified the oil levels.
Shortly after departing for a second time, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the engine began to smoke again. The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing in a field. However, due to the low altitude, the pilot was unable to reach the intended landing site and the aircraft struck trees during the descent. The pilot was not injured in the accident. At the time of the event, the pilot had accumulated 85 total flight hours.
The investigation
The FAA examined the wreckage and discovered that the oil cap was open. After reinstalling the cap, investigators found no discrepancies with the seal and determined that the cap possessed a positive lock.