Accident Details
According to the pilot, the airplane was on a maintenance test flight. During the initial climb, after gaining between 250 and 300 feet of altitude, the engine backfired two times and then stopped running. The pilot stated that he turned the airplane to avoid colliding with obstacles, and it subsequently crashed into a plowed wet field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical failures. Fuel was found in both fuel tanks, and the fuel pumps were found to be functional. However, no fuel was found in the carburetor.
Maintenance History
Prior to the accident flight, the pilot—who was also an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic—had performed maintenance on the airplane. The last annual inspection had been completed over seven years earlier, and the airplane had not been flown since that time.