Witnesses described the home-built craft as flying at an altitude of 100 to 200 feet when it suddenly dived into trees near a gravel pit in the area, according to Clint Johnson, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator. Johnson said the pilot, who was not immediately identified, was the sole person on board.
Johnson said fuel on the ground at the accident site kept rescue workers at bay because the aircraft was equipped with a "ballistic" parachute release device that had to be defused before the area could be considered safe.
Weather was considered good at the time of the crash and no radio transmissions indicating distress were sent out by the pilot, Johnson said.
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