Accident Overview
A non-instrument rated pilot and one passenger took off from an airport at dawn before the control tower was in operation. The departure occurred at 0549 Pacific Daylight Time in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed.
Witness Accounts
One witness reported hearing the aircraft takeoff from Runway 19 and then heard the engine, describing it as sounding like the aircraft was in a dive. Another witness stated that he heard the aircraft fly over his house, then turn around and fly back over his house before the crash. This witness described the weather as foggy but noted that he could see runway lights approximately 400 to 500 yards away.
Weather Conditions
At 0620 PDT, tower personnel observed the weather conditions: a 200-foot indefinite ceiling, visibility of 1/2 mile in fog, temperature 57 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and calm wind.
Wreckage and Investigation
During the impact, the aircraft was demolished, and the wreckage was strewn over a path 345 feet long. A piece of red lens was found near the first impact point. There was no record of a preflight weather briefing or communication with any radio facility.