On suddenly spotting a ridge looming Coming_to_be directly ahead , pilot William L. Lewis cut the engine and `` pancaked '' onto the hillside to reduce Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale the force of the impact Influence .

The forward fuselage broke Destroying off , the plane pancaked Self_motion and skidded Self_motion , then launched into Motion the air and slammed Motion nose-first into the ground , falling Motion_directional over on its back and exploding into a ball of flame .