Accident Overview
An airplane was observed flying at low altitudes between 100 and 300 feet above ground level (agl) prior to impacting the ground. The accident occurred in a wheat field, with the wreckage path measuring about 50 feet long on a magnetic heading of 030 degrees.
Sequence of Events
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying at low altitudes, with one describing the flight pattern as similar to a cropduster. The airplane completed two circles between 200 and 300 feet agl over a farmstead where family members of the pilot were gathered. After circling, the airplane proceeded west, climbed, and then entered a right bank. It subsequently impacted the ground in a right wing down, nose low attitude.
One witness characterized the maneuver as similar to a wingover, while other observed turns were described as normal banked turns. Neither the pilot-in-command of the flight nor the manipulator of the controls at the time of the accident could be determined.
Wreckage and Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that the propeller had separated from the propeller shaft. The flight controls and engine exhibited continuity, indicating they were functional at the time of impact. The wreckage path was consistent with a low-energy impact, as the debris field was relatively short.
No other information regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or occupants was available in the source material.