What happened
The flight departed Knoxville, TN, at 1220 EDT with full fuel tanks. Approximately one hour before the scheduled arrival at Hilton Head, SC, the pilot notified the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) that the flight would be delayed by about 30 minutes.
As the aircraft approached the airport, the pilot requested an airport advisory and announced intentions to enter a downwind leg and execute a long final approach to runway 3. Witnesses observed the airplane flying low on final approach before it banked away from the airport while descending. The aircraft subsequently struck 80-foot tall trees, a powerline, the ground, and a telephone pole. The impact caused the empennage to separate from the wings, and the aircraft came to rest in an upright position. A postcrash fire destroyed the cockpit and cabin sections.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight controls and found no evidence of any malfunction or failure occurring prior to the impact. However, an examination of the engine revealed water contamination located at the servo fuel injector and the fuel manifold. While other aircraft had used the same fuel source on that same day, those operators reported no indications of contaminated fuel.