THE PILOT RECEIVED A PRELFIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FORECAST FOR VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. HE TOOK OFF ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. ABOUT 1-1/2 HRS AFTER THE PLANE TOOK OFF, A RANCHER FOUND ITS WRECKAGE BURNING IN AN OUTLYING/LEVEL PASTURE, AFTER A NEIGHBOR ADVISED HIM OF SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE PASTURE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE WRECKAGE BOUNCED, SLID AND TUMBLED ABOUT 447 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A DIRECTION THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND. THE OWNER SAID THE PILOT HAD OVERSTRESSED THE AIRCRAFT ON A PREVIOUS FLIGHT, BUT NO RELATIONSHIP WAS VERIFIED BETWEEN THAT EVENT AND THE ACCIDENT.