On Tuesday, June 8, 1993, at about 2145 eastern daylight time, a Mooney 20J, N1157B, owned and piloted by David B. Wakefield, of North Haven, Connecticut, impacted the ground approximately one quarter mile from the runway, while in the traffic pattern at the Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The passenger indicated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that conception of the flight originated as he and the pilot departed a social gathering and were in the vicinity of the airport. The airplane departed at approximately 2045 EDT and flew for about 1 hour. From approximately 5,000 feet the pilot performed a spiral descent, did a touch and go on runway 20 and requested a full stop landing on runway 32. The pilot flew left traffic for runway 32, and while turning from the downwind to base leg, the airplane impacted the ground.