What happened
On August 3, 2024, at approximately 12:45 Pacific daylight time, a Protech PT2, registration N657MJ, was involved in an accident near Loli, California. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The pilot, a student pilot and the sole occupant, was performing maneuvers in the local area following departure. After approximately 40 minutes of flight, the pilot began a return to the airport. While flying at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet above ground level, the engine suffered a total loss of power.
As the pilot attempted to restart the engine, the propeller continued to windmill. After the restart attempts failed, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft toward a field to perform an off-airport emergency landing. During the touchdown, the aircraft struck a grapevine, which caused substantial damage to the left wing struts. The pilot was not injured.
Prior to the impact, the pilot noted that both fuel tanks were approximately one-quarter full.