What happened
A pilot was conducting a cross-country flight to a remote dirt airstable, a location he had visited several times previously. An observer at the airstrip noted the aircraft approaching from the south, passing approximately 150 feet above ground level. While the observer noted that engine sounds were normal and did not initially draw attention, they subsequently heard a thud followed by the sudden cessation of engine noise.
The aircraft then cartwheeled on the west side of a pinnacle located north of the airstrip. The resulting debris field was situated approximately 50 feet below the crest of the hill and extended along a magnetic bearing of 045 degrees.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage was conducted, which revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the normal operation of the engine or the airframe.