What happened
The pilot was performing touch and go landings at the Bob White Field when the engine lost power. This occurred just before the pilot began a crosswind turn during the fourth departure of the flight. In an attempt to maintain power, the pilot applied full throttle and carburetor heat; however, the engine continued to lose power until it eventually quit.
The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in a nearby farm field. Upon impact with the terrain, the aircraft's wheels sank into the soft ground, causing the airplane to nose over.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted tests on both the engine and the fuel supply. The engine was found to be capable of producing maximum RPM, though it initially ran at a low RPM during the start of the test. During operational checks, the magnetos were inspected and no discrepancies were identified. An FAA inspector reported that there were no issues found with the operation of the engine during the test run.
The aircraft's fuel supply was examined, which was approximately 3/4 of a tank at the time of the accident. The fuel was drained and inspected, and investigators found no evidence of water or sediment contamination.