What happened
Shortly before departure, a pilot-rated acquaintance spoke with the pilot via cellular phone. During this conversation, the pilot mentioned an intention to practice stalls and spins; however, the witness believed this was a joke based on previous interactions. At 12:18, the pilot was cleared to proceed under visual flight rules (VFR). No further communication was established with the flight following departure.
There were no known witnesses to the accident itself.
The investigation
The wreckage examination located the main debris 20 feet from a ground scar. This scar contained fragments of the right wingtip position light assembly. Investigators also identified a fresh crater in the sandy clay dirt adjacent to the main wreckage, measuring approximately seven feet long, seven feet wide, and two feet deep.
No evidence was found indicating a malfunction of the airframe, flight controls, engine, or accessories.