Accident Summary
Following takeoff, while on the right downwind leg, the passenger noticed the engine beginning to stall. The engine subsequently lost all power, and the pilot was unable to restart it. The pilot established a glide toward Runway 32, but the aircraft struck the ground in a cemetery, approximately 1,800 feet short of the runway.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot's written statement, the engine quit because of ice and water in the fuel. The statement did not elaborate on the source or handling of the fuel.
Preflight Observations
The passenger reported not observing the pilot drain fuel from either fuel tank or the main airplane sump drain during the preflight inspection.
Inspection Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft and found that the main fuel bowl of the fuel strainer was contaminated with water, dirt, rust, paint, and sand.