Incident Overview
A pilot was providing taxi rides to his grandchildren on a private farm strip. Two teenage granddaughters accompanied him. Witnesses observed the pilot in the right front seat, holding the entry door open while taxiing the aircraft up and down the strip.
Sequence of Events
A witness reported hearing the throttle advance at approximately midfield and saw the aircraft become airborne near the end of the strip. The aircraft then climbed in a very high nose-up attitude before sliding backwards in the air, disappearing from view in a tail-down fall.
Aircraft and Occupant Details
Post-incident examination revealed that the elevator trim was found in the full nose-up position. None of the occupants were wearing seatbelts. The passengers had no aeronautical knowledge.
Pilot Background
The pilot had a medical history of treatment for high blood pressure. A review of his logbook indicated that he had discontinued flying while taking medication and had just started flying again after discontinuing the medication.
Statements
The pilot's son stated that the pilot had not intended to take off and felt strongly that the pilot became incapacitated while taxiing, inadvertently becoming airborne.