20071005022529A

(-23) On 10/05/2007 the airman briefed with his CFI for a local 1.0 hours VFR flight from kbge direct keuf direct kbge. A weather brief from flight service was obtained. The aircraft left kbge at 1630L. At approximately 1700L the CFI attempted to make radio contact with accident aircraft to warn of impending weather approaching from the east. No contact was established. The aircraft was declared over due at approximately 1800 on 10/05/2007. At 1630L a witness observed an aircraft of the same color in a straight nose down attitude with "something wrong" with the right wing. The witness did not report the sighting to local authorities until 10/08/2007, after hearing of a missing aircraft broadcast over the local media. Civil air patrol and local authorities commenced a search for the aircraft on 10/06/2007. The wreckage was found on 10/08/2007 at 1328L. The accident scene indicated the aircraft impacted the ground in a near 90 degree vertical attitude with considerable energy; the debris field was limited to a 25 foot circle around the center of impact. The aircraft did not exhibit signs of rotation, ground scarring from the wing impact was evident and was measured at 30'3", the engine and propeller were buried to the rear engine case in hard packed soil. Initial observations of the wings revealed the left wing to be crushed from impact, compression of the aft spar forward towards the front spar, the leading edge was crushed into the front spar, the aileron was present but the attach fittings were distorted in an "s" shape, ground scarring was present the entire length of the left wing, the damage was consistent with a vertical high speed impact. The right wing was crushed from impact, compression of the aft spar forward towards the front spar, the leading edge was crushed into the front spar, however the portion of the wing approximately 59" outboard of the wing strut attach fitting to include the wing tip were folded back over and on top of the inboard right wing, witness marks from the red painted tip were present on the inboard section 57" from the strut attach point, there were no ground scarring present for this section of wing or tip. The right hand aileron was detached from two of the three attaching points and bent cord wise in a "u" shape, the attach fittings were distorted in an "s" shape. The fuselage collapsed into itself, the tail section horizontals and elevators were attached, the vertical stabilizer was damaged on the top and leading edge, the rudder was attached.