What happened
The flight occurred under night visual meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed. While operating approximately 2.2 nautical miles south of the destination airport, the airplane encountered a power line that stood 110 feet high. The aircraft collided with the structure and subsequently impacted terrain, leading to its destruction. A post-impact fire followed the collision.
A witness located about one mile south of the power lines observed the aircraft flying from south to north at a very low altitude. The observer estimated the airplane's altitude to be approximately 50 feet higher than the top of the power lines at the time of the incident.
The investigation
Post-accident inspection of the wreckage was conducted to determine if any mechanical failures contributed to the event. The examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies with the aircraft systems or structure prior to the collision.