Flight Planning and Initial Leg
The pilot, who held 125 hours of flight experience, planned a round-robin cross-country flight from his home base to another airport located 126 nautical miles away. The first leg of the flight was described as uneventful.
Fuel Check Before Return
Prior to departing for the return flight to his home base, the pilot visually inspected the fuel tanks and reported they were "half-full." He calculated that the flight back would take 88 minutes.
Power Loss and Forced Landing
When the airplane was "very close to his destination," the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the left wing collided with a tree, causing the aircraft to spin around.