The Accident
According to witnesses, the pilot declared an emergency over the radio, stating that the engine was losing power and that she was attempting an emergency landing at Excelsior Springs Airport. The pilot reported that she initiated a go-around after the runway was assured due to the incursion of another aircraft backtracking on the runway directly in her path.
Other witnesses stated that the aircraft either bounced off the runway surface or attempted a low pass at a slow airspeed. The aircraft then veered left from over the runway, dragging the left wing tip over high vegetation. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted cultivated soil in a cartwheel fashion.
Investigation Findings
Evidence was found suggesting a powerplant failure due to oil starvation. The engine sump showed that the oil quick-drain fitting was locked in the open position. The engine had undergone an oil change just prior to the accident flight. An engine teardown at the manufacturer's facilities revealed that a catastrophic failure had occurred due to a lack of internal engine component lubrication.