Accident Sequence
According to the pilot, he was on the final leg of the traffic pattern, intending to land on runway 14, a 1,500-foot runway. As he approached the runway, he observed unmarked power lines approximately 25 feet below the airplane and glanced back towards the runway. The windshield then shattered as the airplane struck another smaller, unmarked power line located 30 feet above the power lines that the pilot had in sight. Following the impact, the airplane began a steep descent. The pilot was able to partially recover the attitude prior to impacting the ground at a 45-degree angle.
Damage
During the accident sequence, the forward section of the fuselage, the firewall, and both wings incurred substantial damage.
Pilot Report
The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at an airport 18 miles to the northwest of the accident location were calm.