What happened
The aircraft was observed maneuvering at altitudes between 100 and 500 feet AGL prior to the accident. The pilot frequently utilized the area for aerial observations of his farms and for looking for deer. Upon impact, the airplane struck the ground in a nearly vertical attitude. The empennage of the aircraft was twisted and folded to the left, though all aircraft components remained at the point of impact.
The investigation
Investigators found no preimpact discrepancies that would have prevented the engine from operating. Examination of the wreckage identified a fractured fuselage support tube that exhibited signs of corrosion. However, NTSB metallurgists determined that the corrosion did not penetrate completely through the thickness of the support tube and concluded that all fractures were the result of overstress separations.
Findings
At the time of the accident, the density altitude was estimated at 5,600 feet. Weather conditions included a stationary front extending westward through the area, characterized by cumulus clouds and visible moisture. The pilot had logged 429.7 hours in the aircraft.