What happened
The pilot was conducting a training maneuver involving a short field takeoff. During the ground roll, the pilot maintained full aft pressure on the elevator control until the aircraft reached an altitude of 50 feet above ground level (AGL). At that point, only slight forward pressure was applied to the controls. The pilot reported that the airspeed indicator read 47 mph at 50 feet AGL and increased to approximately 57 mph at 70 feet AGL.
Following this climb, the aircraft's nose pitched down abruptly, and the aircraft began to lose altitude rapidly. The pilot attempted to regain airspeed and recover from the descent but was unable to arrest the sink rate. Just prior to impact with the ground, the pilot applied full back elevator input, which resulted in no change in pitch attitude. The aircraft struck the runway surface on its nose gear, bounced, and subsequently nosed over as it departed the runway environment.
Findings
The investigation highlighted a critical error in airspeed management during the initial climb phase. The manufacturer's recommended best angle of climb speed (Vx) for this specific aircraft configuration is 70 knots. The pilot's reported airspeeds of 47 mph and 57 mph were significantly below this required performance threshold, leading to an aerodynamic stall condition that prevented a successful recovery.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that airspeed remains at or above the recommended best angle of climb speed (Vx) during the initial climb after takeoff, particularly when practicing short field procedures. Holding full back elevator pressure beyond the necessary rotation point can lead to excessive angles of attack and loss of lift.