Approach and Touchdown
The airplane approached runway 09 under nighttime conditions. Runway 09 is 2,156 feet long and 50 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. The airplane touched down near the opposite end of the runway, almost on the markings for runway 27.
Climb and Collision
After touchdown, the engine revved and the airplane initially climbed. It then turned left and struck transmission wires. The tower supporting those wires was approximately 133 feet tall and unlighted. The tower was located adjacent to the runway, about 1,260 feet northeast of the departure end of runway 09. Additionally, there were 56-foot-tall transmission wires about 860 feet beyond the departure end of the runway, oriented perpendicular to it. A review of the Information Manual for the make and model airplane indicated that sufficient horizontal distance remained for the airplane to climb above those wires.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had obtained his private pilot certificate 4 days before the accident. According to his logbook, he had a total flight experience of 87 hours, of which about 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. His total nighttime flying experience was approximately 5 hours.
Environmental Conditions
About 5 minutes after the accident, the reported wind at an airport about 10 miles southeast of the accident site was from 210 degrees at 8 knots.