What happened
On June 1, 2013, a twin-engine, single-seat experimental amateur-built Wilson Cricket MC12 crashed shortly after departing Doylestont Airport (DYL) in Pennsylvania. The aircraft, registration N2SZ, was participating in a local static aircraft display that day.
After taking off from runway 23, the airplane entered a shallow climb. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, swerving side to side, and appearing to struggle to maintain altitude. Some observers reported hearing engine sputtering, while others noted the aircraft's wings rocking significantly. As the airplane approached Route 611, it pitched up, rolled sharply to the left, and struck power lines. The collision caused an initial explosion, and the aircraft subsequently impacted the ground, where a second explosion occurred due to a ruptured fuel tank.
One witness reported seeing the aircraft flying as if the pilot were attempting an emergency landing. The pilot, a 69-year-old airline transport pilot, was transported to a hospital where he later died from thermal burns and inhalation injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage at the intersection of PA Route 611 Bypass and Route 313. The