At 0030 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a field after a loss of engine power. The Private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Pinckneyville, Ill., at 2245 and was en route to Olathe, Kan. Night visual conditions prevailed. A post-crash examination revealed about one cup of fuel was present in each wing tank; there was no evidence of a fuel leak anywhere on the airplane. The engine was rotated and thumb compression was observed on all cylinders, and spark was observed on all spark plugs.