Incident Overview
A pilot and passenger were involved in an accident when the aircraft's wing struck a tree during a low-altitude maneuver. The incident occurred after the pilot reported losing engine power while searching for an emergency landing area.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the engine lost power while he was at a low altitude, attempting to locate a suitable emergency landing field. During this search, the wing of the aircraft hit a tree, resulting in damage.
Passenger Account
The passenger provided a different account, indicating that they were performing aerobatics at low altitude when the engine quit. She further stated that she was not wearing the required parachute at the time and had asked the pilot to stop the aerobatic maneuvers prior to the incident.
Investigation Findings
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel later conducted a test run of the engine. The engine performed normally during testing, with no anomalies observed. Investigators found no evidence of fuel in the aircraft, and no fuel spill was evident at the crash site.