At approximately 10:53 central time, a Vans RV-6 homebuilt airplane lost power on initial climb from a field and struck trees near Hammond, killing the pilot. Witnesses said the flight departed the airport, lost power and landed in a field about a quarter-mile from the runway. The pilot walked back to the airport and asked people there who owned the field he had just landed on. He said the airplane had a fuel problem. Subsequently he tried to take off from the field. The engine lost power and the airplane spun into the trees.