Accident Overview
A pilot, who had recently purchased the aircraft, was on a cross-country flight. He landed at an airport with an elevation of 4,363 feet and refueled. During takeoff, the density altitude was approximately 7,089 feet, and the aircraft was near its maximum gross weight limit.
Sequence of Events
Shortly after lift-off, the pilot radioed that he was having a little trouble gaining altitude. He then stated that the aircraft had problems and he did not know what they were. As he was transmitting, a stall warning horn was operating. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a nose-down, left-wing-low attitude while at a relatively low airspeed.
Post-Crash Examination
An examination of the engine, aircraft systems, and flight controls revealed no evidence of a failure or malfunction. According to a Lycoming representative, the engine would have been producing a maximum of 79% of its rated power at a density altitude of 7,089 feet.