Accident Overview
On an instrument flight, the pilot of N6858V reported a system problem and requested clearance to return to the departure airport. Shortly thereafter, the pilot declared an emergency due to a gyro problem. No further communications were received from the aircraft.
Weather and Witness Observations
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Witnesses heard the airplane flying in clouds before it crashed. According to witness reports, the airplane made an S-turn, then was observed below the clouds seconds before impact.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained extensive damage during impact.
Examination Findings
An examination of the flight controls did not disclose any obvious malfunction or control failure. Examination of the electrical and vacuum system components did not indicate a mechanical problem. Both gyros showed signs of rotation, and the vacuum pump sustained impact damage.
Toxicology
A low level of ethanol was detected in the pilot's liver tissue, but none was found in kidney tissue.