What happened
During a ferry flight, the pilot began a takeoff from a farm field. While performing the initial climb at an altitude between 150 and 200 feet AGL, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power.
In response to the power loss, the pilot performed a straight-ahead landing into a nearby sunflower field. Following the touchdown, the airplane traveled approximately 55 feet before the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to nose over. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Prior to the accident flight, the pilot and two mechanics spent approximately six hours performing maintenance on the aircraft. This work included flushing the fuel tanks and adding fresh fuel. It was noted that the aircraft had been started and allowed to run periodically over the last several years. Records indicated that the last annual inspection on the aircraft was completed in 1989.