Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain at a 55-degree descent angle. The swath cut through the trees at the accident site measured approximately 030 degrees magnetic, while the airplane's track over the ground during flight had been about 325 degrees magnetic.
Flight Profile
No flight plan was filed, and the pilot was never in contact with air traffic control facilities. Radar coverage revealed that during the approximately 35-minute flight, the airplane climbed to and maintained an altitude of 8,700 feet until about 3 minutes prior to the accident. The airplane then descended, leveled off, then descended again, and impacted terrain at an elevation of about 1,750 feet. The estimated rate of the final descent was initially 1,800 feet per minute, which increased to 6,400 feet per minute.
Pilot Background
The private pilot received his certificate less than 4 months earlier. The pilot was returning from a business trip where he had attempted to sell the airplane. The sale was not completed based upon the results of a pre-sale inspection. The pilot was seen as visibly upset and departed the airport for his home field.