After completing a circuit, the aircraft was flown along the strip at an altitude of 50 feet. An airspeed of 50 knots was maintained with a low power setting. Towards the end of the strip the pilot attempted to apply climb power but the engine did not respond. The pilot selected a clear area straight ahead and landed the aircraft. During the landing roll the aircraft struck a tree stump which was hidden in the tall grass. The contact spring was missing from the distributor cap, which caused the output from the magneto to short circuit to ground and as a result of which the engine lost power.
