Incident Overview
A student pilot, who arrived at the airport between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m., prepared for a flight in an airplane without an electrical system. The airport manager, after conversing with the pilot, hand-propped the engine to start it. The manager then went inside and did not observe the takeoff.
Witness Account
A witness driving eastbound toward the airport reported seeing a yellow airplane flying very low as it crossed 195th Street heading south. As she approached the crest of a hill on 195th Street, she observed black smoke rising from an area south of her location. Upon reaching the top of the hill, near the end of the runway, she saw black smoke and flames but could not identify the source. She assumed someone was burning debris and continued on her way. The witness noted that when the airplane crossed the road, it was not trailing smoke or flames.
Examination
An examination of the wreckage found no anomalies with the aircraft.
Probable Cause
The source does not state a probable cause for the accident.