Incident Overview
According to witness statements, the pilot completed a short checkout and then boarded a female companion in the rented aircraft. After takeoff, the aircraft flew to a point 2.9 nautical miles from the airport.
Witness Observations
Numerous ground witnesses observed the aircraft perform a 'series of wingovers, at low altitude,' with entry altitudes estimated at 300 ft AGL and below. A police officer reported that each successive entry altitude 'was slightly lower than the previous one, with the corresponding recovery altitudes lower as well,' until the aircraft impacted in a vacant field in a residential area. The police officer noted that the recovery altitude on the first wingover was 'about the height of the telephone poles.'
Additional Details
The coroner's office reported that a relative of the passenger lived about 1.5 miles from the accident site.