What happened
While operating in the cruise phase of flight, a student pilot experienced a mechanical failure involving the aircraft's rudder controls. The pilot initially reported that the aircraft had collided with a bird; however, investigators found no evidence of a bird strike. The pilot subsequently changed his account, stating he had collided with a parachutist, though there were no reports of any missing persons or related incidents in the area. The pilot eventually stated that the aircraft had collided with an unidentified object.
During the resulting forced landing on a highway, the aircraft struck a transmission wire. The student pilot was accompanied by one passenger, who was not injured but stated he had been asleep during the event and had no knowledge of the accident. No official accident report was filed by the student pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and discovered a round gouge located on the top one-third of the vertical stabilizer. This impact caused the stabilizer to bend slightly toward the left, which partially jammed the movement of the rudder.