Salute!
Looks to this old pilot that he had no other big problems and had the energy/altitude to make the turn back to at least the field boundary. Being with him so familiar with the plane, I go with that starting point.
So some new problem occurred and was beyond his control for altitude, speed, configuration regardless of his skill- thinking of Art back filming Top Gun spin.
RIP, man, see ya at the great rejoin bar.
Gums sends...