What happened
A farmer observed an aircraft approaching a private airstrip from the south as if preparing to land, though he did not witness the actual crash. Firefighters discovered the wreckage approximately 1/4 mile from the approach end of Runway 2 while responding to a reported grass fire.
This flight marked the first time the aircraft had flown since June 3, 1989, as it had been stationed at its departure airport for cosmetic maintenance during that period. Prior to the flight, the pilot had expressed apprehension regarding landing at this specific airstrip. At approximately 15:53 CDT in Austin, located about 30 miles west, winds were reported from 340 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the aircraft impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude and subsequently burned. While there was extensive damage caused by both the impact and the resulting fire, specific mechanical findings included:
- No rotational damage was noted on the propeller.
- The mixture control was positioned at the idle cut-off position.
- The throttle was found 2.3 inches from the forward position and was bent approximately 90 degrees to the right.
- The fuel selector was located between the left tank and the off position.