Initial examination of the scene by Detective Carabine turned up charring on Captain Carranza's leather jacket and on one of the wings. This suggested the airplane was struck by lightning and caught fire; and that Captain Carranza died after bailing out from the burning aircraft. Captain Carranza was not wearing his parachute, although the pre-flight check indicated a parachute was placed behind his seat.

Lieutenant F. W. Bullock, US Army also investigated the accident scene on the evening of July 13th and reported his findings to the commander of Fort Monmouth at Ocean Park. Lieutenant Bullock concluded that Captain Carranza had tried to land and hit trees. He based his finding partly on his observation that the throttle had been closed and the spark advanced. Mr. Patrick A Burkholz, of Mount Holly, who served as first class mechanic overseas with the 152nd air squadron, supported the Lieutenant's conclusion.

In addition, there were reports that an aircraft was seen trying to land at Trenton the night before at about the time the severe storm was in its initial stage. Additional information was brought forward about an unknown aviator who dropped a yellow flare over a field near Scudder's Falls, but then headed toward Trenton and turned toward Chatsworth and Mount Holly. Back at Roosevelt Field, another airplane, which some thought resembled Captain Carranza's "Mexico-Excelsior" was seen flying over the field and eventually disappeared westward.

Finally, Mr. J. C. Holloway, who managed an estate near Chatsworth, reported that at about 9:30pm on the night of July 12th, he heard an airplane flying very low over his house. Mr. Holloway judged from the sound of the engine that it was misfiring, and after going outside saw it heading west and disappear only to return in about fifteen minutes. Mr. Holloway indicated he heard a crash and an explosion a short time later, which he attributed to the engine backfiring and did not investigate further.

A preliminary medical examination at the morgue disclosed that Captain Carranza died instantly; his head had been crushed and all limbs broken. The flashlight he had gripped in his hand had been driven into his palm. Two of the officers from Fort Dix, Lieutenant Colonel Curtiss Clawsen and Captain William Lippold of the Medical Corps, assisted Dr. Daniel Remer, the Burlington County Physician in an inquest. Their report to Coroner Benjamin F. Farmer stated "accidental death by falling from airplane". The charring on Captain Carranza's jacket, described by Detective Carabine, was never fully explained.

The wreckage was transported to Mount Holly and stored in the armory for examination by regular army officers, who were ordered to conduct an examination.