What happened
During a night flight under visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft impacted terrain approximately 1/3 nautical mile south of the runway 9 threshold. The impact occurred with the left wing low into a flat, cultivated soybean field. Following the collision, the aircraft exploded and a ground fire ensued, leaving a wreckage debris path measuring over 160 feet in length.
At the time of the accident, the weather featured moderate haze with ground visibility of 6 statute miles. The event took place after civil twilight, with 41 percent of the moon's visible disk illuminated. The pilot had recently resumed flying operations following a significant period of inactivity; as of June 2005, the pilot reported a total flight time of 150 hours and had not flown within the previous six months. Additionally, flight logs indicated that the pilot's total night flight experience was approximately 17 hours and that no night flying had been performed in over 15 years.
The investigation
Investigators examined the airframe, engine, and propeller, finding no mechanical anomalies or preexisting conditions that would have prevented normal operation. Furthermore, airport personnel confirmed that the runway 9/27 lighting systems were fully operational at the time of the accident.