On October 26, 1999, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Rans S-12, N70197, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Gainesville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Whitman Strip Airport, Manassas, Virginia. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said "...I made a right turn to the west. I was too slow and the right wing stalled. The aircraft spun, I corrected for the spin and tried to pull up, but it was to late and I went into the trees at about a 30-degree angle...." The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported 377 hours of total flight experience, of which, 324 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane.