Accident Sequence
According to the investigation report, a non-instrument rated pilot contacted approach control and reported that he was in the clouds and executing a 180-degree turn. Shorty after, a pilot witness on the ground observed the aircraft exit the base of the cloud layer. The witness described the aircraft in a 45-degree nose-down attitude with a 20-degree left bank. The witness estimated the aircraft's speed at approximately 250 knots. The aircraft's pilot operating handbook lists the maximum maneuvering speed as 121 knots, indicating the aircraft was traveling well above that threshold.
Impact and Crash
The aircraft then struck high-power lines and crashed into a wooded area. Examination of the wreckage revealed that both the left and right wings were found beneath the power lines. The wings showed no indication of having struck the power lines; the spar fractures in the wings were oriented in an upward or positive direction. Additionally, a large piece of the power cable, measuring 1 1/4 inches in diameter, was found wrapped around the propeller hub and the propeller assembly.
Post-Crash Findings
The condition of the wings suggests that the aircraft may have contacted the power lines with the propeller and other forward structures, but the wings themselves did not strike the cables. The upward spar fractures are consistent with forces that would have pulled the wings upward relative to the fuselage. The wreckage distribution and these findings are documented in the official report.