Incident Overview
Witnesses saw the aircraft flying slightly above the treetops before it collided with a high voltage tension wire. The collision caused the right wing to separate from the fuselage at the wing root. No fire damage was noted at the wing root, although the wing root was found approximately 8 feet from the fire-damaged cabin area. There was no evidence of fuel spillage in the immediate vicinity of the right wing.
Passenger Account
The aircraft carried two passengers, aged 10 and 11, who were seated in the right front seat and used the same seat belt. The surviving passenger stated that they had asked the pilot to fly an "up and down flight path," a maneuver the pilot had performed on previous occasions to thrill the boys. The passenger noted that the engine sounded normal during the altitude changes but might have sputtered during the last ascent.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported the aircraft was just above the treetops prior to the collision with the high voltage wire. The aircraft's flight path was directed toward the sun.
Aircraft Examination
Following the accident, the fuel selector was found positioned to the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank was not ruptured. A mechanic loading the separated right wing onto a truck observed approximately one pint of fuel spill from the right wing root. There was no fire damage noted at the wing root, though the cabin area sustained fire damage.