What happened
The pilot departed after refueling a Piper Cub to conduct a routine pipeline patrol. While flying a westbound route over terrain exceeding 8,000 feet, the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft between segments. The aircraft crashed approximately 9 miles west of the departure airport. There were no witnesses to the accident, and the pilot failed to establish contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) prior to the impact.
The investigation
The wreckage was located in a near-vertical attitude, facing east, with the engine positioned approximately 4 feet below ground level. An examination of the airframe and engine showed that the flight control system remained continuous and fuel was present in the engine. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failures occurring prior to the impact.
Findings
Medical records indicated that the pilot had recently experienced chest pains severe enough to interrupt daily activities. During the autopsy, a microscopic examination of the heart revealed nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromatism, though no acute changes were identified.