What happened
A student pilot, who had not yet received a solo endorsement from a flight instructor, borrowed an aircraft from its owner. The pilot flew solo to Cleveland, Mississippi, where a flight instructor provided the necessary endorsement for solo flight. After returning to Inverness, Mississippi, to refuel, the pilot flew to Leland, Mississippi, and picked up a passenger.
The purpose of the flight was deer spotting. During the operation, the aircraft was observed flying at a slow speed and low altitude within the crash area. The wreckage was located the following day. The aircraft had impacted a group of trees in a nose-first position at a slow speed. The descent caused damage to only one small tree branch.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of any pre-crash failure or malfunction regarding the engine, flight controls, or the overall aircraft structure.