Accident Overview
During a cross-country flight, the airplane collided with a tree approximately 12 miles from the departure airport. The pilot sustained head injuries and did not recall the circumstances leading to the accident. The accident site area consists of generally flat grasslands with scattered medium height trees.
Wreckage Examination
The first identified point of contact was a tree whose top branches were on the ground along with an outboard section of the right wing. A piece of right wing flap was found near the first identified ground scar. The ground scar continued to the main wreckage, and various pieces of the airplane were in the debris field.
Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. The carburetor and fuel pump contained fuel. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft; its blades displayed leading edge gouging, torsional twisting, chordwise striations across the cambered surface, and trailing edge S-bending. There was no evidence of a premishap catastrophic mechanical malfunction or fire.
Radar Data
Recorded radar data was obtained and reviewed. The departure airport had an elevation of 1,286 feet. A radar target consistent with the expected time and location of the accident flight appeared northwest of the airport on a northwest track climbing through 1,700 feet. The target then turned to the southwest and maintained an altitude varying between 2,300 and 2,500 feet. About 5 minutes into the flight, the target track shifted left of course and began descending. The last recorded radar return occurred about 200 feet above ground level and on course for the accident site.