What happened
For approximately two months leading up to the accident, the aircraft's electrical system had been malfunctioning and failing to charge the battery. Despite attempts by two different maintenance shops to repair the issue, the system remained non-functional. During this time, the pilot had been operating the aircraft by only activating the master switch for engine starts and short periods of radio use.
On the day of the accident, the pilot activated the master switch to start the engine but failed to turn it off before departing for his destination. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilot detected what he believed to be smoke or fumes originating from a malfunctioning heater and decided to perform a precautionary landing.
While attempting to land in an open area near a county road, the aircraft struck a power line that the pilot was attempting to fly under to reach his intended touchdown point. Following the collision, the smell of fumes intensified, prompting the pilot to attempt an immediate landing. The aircraft touched down with an excessive descent rate, causing both main landing gear to collapse. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot observed a small fire at the right wing root. The pilot did not approach the aircraft to extinguish the flames, and the aircraft was eventually consumed by the fire. The pilot was not injured.