Accident Overview
An airplane departed on a cross-country flight under visual flight rules (VFR) with the intention of returning to its home airport. During the flight, the pilot opened a VFR flight plan via radio with Flight Service. This communication was the last contact with the pilot.
Witness Account
A ground witness residing in the desert near the accident site reported hearing a noise resembling an engine cutting out, followed by a sound similar to a car door slamming. The witness did not see the airplane but heard these sounds.
Search and Recovery
A search was initiated after the airplane became overdue. The wreckage and the fatally injured pilot and passengers were discovered the following day. The airplane had struck the ground in a right-wing-low, stall-spin attitude. All wreckage was concentrated in the immediate vicinity of the point of ground impact.
Pilot Experience and Aircraft
The pilot had obtained a private pilot airman certificate ten months prior to the accident and had logged approximately 85 flying hours in the same type of airplane. No malfunctions or failures were found with the engine during the investigation.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined that the airplane impacted the ground in a stall-spin attitude with the right wing low. The engine examination revealed no pre-existing mechanical issues.