What happened
According to witnesses on the ground, the aircraft was operating at a very low altitude beneath an overcast layer when it collided with the guy wires of a television tower. The impact caused the plane to lose control immediately. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by the forces of the collision and a fire that broke out after the crash.
Weather observations from stations in the vicinity indicated poor Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions. Skies were obscured, and there was light drizzle accompanied by fog. Despite being instrument-rated, there is no record indicating that the pilot had requested an IFR clearance prior to the flight.
The investigation
A complete teardown and inspection of the accident engine was conducted to determine mechanical integrity. Investigators found no evidence to suggest a preexisting discrepancy or mechanical failure that would have caused a powerplant failure during flight.