Event Summary
Shortly after an uneventful departure from the airport, the airplane lost engine power as it was being turned to enter the traffic pattern. The pilot executed a 180-degree left turn to return to the airport. During the turn, the airplane overshot the runway. The pilot then turned the airplane to the right to realign with the runway. At approximately 50 feet above the ground, the right wing stalled. The airplane continued to roll to the right and did not respond to aileron inputs. It subsequently impacted a grass area adjacent to the runway, ground looped, and came to rest.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that when fuel was drained from the carburetor bowl, the fuel was consistent with automotive fuel and was contaminated with water and other foreign object debris.
Witness Statement
A witness reported that the pilot had experienced a similar problem with a sputtering engine on the day prior to the accident, and had executed an uneventful forced landing to the airport.