Background
The accident airplane was en route to Spirit of St. Louis Airport, flying westbound for a landing. Multiple witnesses observed the airplane in the air immediately before the accident.
Witness Accounts
One witness reported that the engine was not running and that the airplane was descending in a stepwise fashion. The witness further noted that the airplane turned so that its wings became perpendicular to the ground. Subsequently, the airplane rolled, changing the wing orientation to a non-vertical attitude with the right wing lower than the left. The airplane then struck the ground.
A different witness described the airplane as being "in a very steep angle." As the airplane descended near the ground, it was banked to the right. Almost immediately, the airplane impacted the terrain, with its right wing and right landing gear making contact simultaneously.
Wreckage Examination
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position. No other anomalies were observed.