Incident Overview
While operating at 3,000 feet during cruise flight, approximately 20 miles south of the intended destination, the pilot reported that smoke filled the cockpit. About one minute later, the engine seized. The pilot initiated an attempted forced landing onto a water-filled phosphate pit. However, the aircraft collided with an embankment short of the pit, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
Engine Examination
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the number 4 cylinder piston was damaged circumferentially for undetermined reasons. Additionally, failure of the number 5 cylinder connecting rod was discovered. The engine had reportedly been recently overhauled, but the aircraft logbooks, which were inside the aircraft at the time of the accident, were not recovered.