A structural failure common in American beech trees suffering from beech bark disease. The disease allows decay fungi to rot the wood, severely weakening the trunk. During high winds, the compromised stem snaps violently, typically around 15 feet above the ground, leaving a jagged stump and creating a massive hazard for loggers and recreational forest users.
Heard on the job
We had a lot of beech snap after that storm rolled through the diseased stand.