What happened
During a local flight under favorable weather conditions, an aircraft was performing various maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 1,200 feet. The flight, which included a pilot and one passenger, involved a series of banked turns and a wingover. While the pilot was executing a steep left-hand turn, the engine ceased operation, causing the aircraft to enter a left-hand spin.
Although the pilot successfully recovered from the spin, the low altitude prevented a standard landing. The crew was forced to perform an emergency landing in a remote, grassy area characterized by trees and obstacles. During the descent, the aircraft impacted a ridge and furrow, which caused significant damage to the forward fuselage and the landing gear. Emergency responders arrived at the scene following a report from a witness and extracted both occupants from the wreckage. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries and required transport to a hospital. No fire occurred during the impact.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that the engine had been performing reliably prior to the failure. No specific reason for the sudden loss of power was determined. Records indicated that the aircraft had undergone a recent re-weighing procedure, which involved draining and subsequently refilling the fuel tanks. Since that procedure, the aircraft had completed five hours of flight time and had been refueled twice at a licensed aerodrome, with the most recent refueling occurring before the flight in question.