What happened
During a Title 14 CFR Part 135 non-scheduled cargo flight, a Cessna (type not specified in source) collided with a communications tower located at an altitude of 1,749 feet AGL. The impact caused the aircraft to explode and led to the subsequent collapse of the tower. Debris from the accident was distributed across an area of approximately 700 yards.
A witness observing from a nearby yard reported hearing the aircraft engine and noted the plane was flying westward toward the sun. The witness observed that the aircraft was flying lower than previous aircraft passing over the tower and appeared to strike a guy wire. According to the witness, there were no visible signs of engine trouble, and no attempt to correct the flight path was observed prior to the collision. The witness described the aircraft jolting to the left and exploding in mid-air, with the tower falling in the direction of the aircraft's travel approximately 4 to 5 seconds after the explosion.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport were reported as clear skies with visibility of 10 statute miles. Winds were from 160 degrees at 6 knots, and the temperature was 22 degrees Celsius.
The investigation
An examination of the debris and impact marks on the tower structure confirmed that the aircraft struck the tower at the 1,425-foot level. Investigators found no evidence of pre-accident anomalies regarding the airframe, flight controls, or engine. At the time of the collision, the sun was at an altitude of 22 degrees on a bearing of 250 degrees, and the aircraft was traveling on a magnetic heading of approximately 265 degrees.