What happened
The flight arrived over Clarion County Airport at approximately 2100 hours and initiated a visual approach for landing. At the time of the accident, marginal visual weather conditions prevailed. Another pilot waiting on the ground observed the aircraft through a break in the clouds as it turned left toward the southwest, appearing to establish a left downwind leg for Runway 05. The aircraft was subsequently located in a wooded area southwest of the airport.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage failed to indicate any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or system failure. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, and the debris field was confined to an area consistent with a stall-type accident.