Accident Overview
During the flight, the aircraft sustained an in-flight structural failure, resulting in the separation of certain components. The aircraft then entered an inverted flat spin and crashed. Post-crash examination revealed that portions of the wing and aileron were never located. Other debris was scattered, with some parts discovered approximately half a mile from the main impact site.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined that all failures of the airframe were consistent with overload. This finding indicates that the loads imposed on the structure during the event exceeded the material strength. The examination of the wreckage focused on the fracture surfaces and deformation patterns.
Pilot Medical Condition
An autopsy conducted on the pilot determined that the cause of death was massive trauma. Furthermore, the autopsy showed evidence that the pilot was incapacitated by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease at the time of the accident.
Structural Analysis
The missing wing and aileron components were never recovered, suggesting they separated from the aircraft while in flight. The fact that all structural failures were of an overload nature implies that the airframe was subjected to forces beyond its design capability. No other failure modes were identified in the investigation.