What happened
Prior to the flight, the pilot stated that he would be flying for approximately half an hour. Approximately 25 minutes after takeoff, ground witnesses located northeast of the airport observed the aircraft on a westerly heading while turning toward the airport. Shortly thereafter, these same witnesses saw the aircraft enter an uncontrolled descent. They described the motion as flipping or corkscrewing in a nose-down attitude.
Another pilot flying at approximately 1,350 feet MSL also observed the aircraft spinning at roughly his own altitude. He noted that the aircraft appeared to be recovering but remained out of control when he lost sight of it. Additionally, an individual in a wooded area about 1,000 to 1,500 feet from the impact point heard the aircraft but did not see it. This witness reported that the engine sounded normal until seconds before hearing the crash.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the leading edges of both wings were compressed. Investigators found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of any component.