Overview
A pilot flying a cross-country trip to a remote dirt airstrip, which he had visited multiple times before, experienced an accident during the final approach. A friend of the pilot, present at the airstrip, observed the accident airplane approaching from the south and flying over the airstrip at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level. The friend then looked away, noting that the engine sounds were normal and did not attract his attention. Shortly afterward, he heard a "thud" and the engine sounds stopped. Looking up, he saw the airplane cartwheel on the west side of a pinnacle located north of the airstrip.
Debris Field and Impact
The debris field was situated about 50 feet below the crest of the hill and extended along a magnetic bearing of 045 degrees. Calculations indicated that at the time of the accident, the sun was 11 degrees above the horizon, with a magnetic bearing of 56 degrees. The pilot was executing a turn into the sun, placing the airplane on the shadow side of the pinnacle just before impact.
Possible Factors
Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the airframe or engine. The glare from the sun likely affected the pilot's vision and his ability to discern the proximity of the terrain.
Witness Account
The friend at the airstrip reported that the engine sounds were not unusual and did not prompt any concern until the thud and cessation of sound. He then witnessed the airplane cartwheel on the west side of the pinnacle.