Witness Account
A witness reported to an FAA inspector that he observed an airplane make two low passes over runway 17. The engine sounded smooth but quiet during these passes. On a third pass, the pilot raised the landing gear and initiated a climb. The airplane began a normal left turn to crosswind. The witness stated that he might have looked away momentarily, and upon looking back, the wings had rotated to what appeared to be nearly a 90-degree bank. The nose of the aircraft dropped to almost vertical, and the airplane dove into the ground. The witness noted that he did not observe any fire or smoke.
FAA Examination
FAA inspectors arrived at the scene and found the airplane located in a marsh area with its nose embedded in the ground, facing the runway. Examination revealed a residual amount of fuel in the fuel lines, fuel transducer, and fuel flow divider. Inspection of the airplane's structure, flight controls, and engine found no evidence of precrash anomalies.