Bellanca 1730 crash near Henderson, Kentucky, United States

The student pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack at a low altitude, in the airport traffic pattern, following a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's decision to attempt the night cross-country flight, his lack of overall and specific operational experience, and his likely impairment from use of methamphetamine and cocaine.