What happened
Shortly after departing, the aircraft was climbing at an altitude of roughly 50 feet when the engine suffered a sudden and complete loss of power. Following the failure, the pilot attempted to maneuver the plane across several obstacles, including two fences, multiple drainage banks, and an irrigation canal.
During this emergency glide, the aircraft's rate of descent increased significantly. The plane ultimately made a heavy impact with the ground and overturned. Upon landing, a fire ignited, which was intense enough to consume the middle portion of the fuselage. There was only one person on board, the pilot, who sustained slight injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigators were unable to definitively determine why the engine lost power because the severity of the post-crash fire damage hindered the examination of the mechanical components.