Summary
Following a dual check consisting of two circuits, the pilot was sent for one solo circuit. The take off was
normal, and the aircraft was climbed to about 500 feet and turned to the right across wind. At this point the
pilot throttled back to climb power and the engine failed. She closed the throttle and opened it again and the
engine responded momentarily but then lost power completely. The pilot checked that the fuel was on and
mixture rich and commenced an approach towards a small field almost straight ahead. The wind was from
020 degrees at 10 knots, but the longest dimension of the field was towards the east and the pilot continued
in that direction. In the final stages of the approach, the pilot pulled up to avoid a small tree and the aircraft
then sank heavily into the selected field, which had drainage furrows running obliquely to the landing direction.
The aircraft bounced twice and on the third touchdown the nosewheel collapsed, the nose dug in and the
aircraft flipped over on to its back. There was no fire and the pilot turned off the ignition and the master
switch before evacuating through the cabin window. The field in which the aircraft landed measured 480 feet
by 270 feet and there was no more suitable area available.
