What happened
The flight involved a pilot operating alone for a series of takeoffs and landings. After departing, the pilot communicated with air traffic control or other relevant parties, indicating an intention to remain within the airport traffic pattern for further practice.
Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft's approach phase. They noted that the airplane was positioned significantly higher than standard operating procedures would dictate while on the base leg of the pattern. At this time, the aircraft was oriented on a heading of 320 degrees. As the plane flew over trees located on the western side of the runway, observers saw the aircraft enter an aerodynamic stall. The pilot attempted to correct by banking left, but the aircraft subsequently dove into the ground.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the loss of control due to stall. The aircraft's altitude during the base leg was abnormally high, which likely contributed to the pilot's inability to maintain adequate airspeed or proper configuration for landing. The subsequent left bank and dive indicate a failure to recover from the stalled condition before impacting terrain.