What happened
The aircraft collided with the terrain immediately following a stall that occurred during the initial climb phase of takeoff. This incident took place at an altitude of approximately 75 feet above the runway surface.
According to the pilot's account, the takeoff roll on Runway 30 was unusually short, lasting only about 200 feet before rotation and liftoff. As the aircraft began its ascent, the pilot realized that the airspeed was dangerously low. At roughly 75 feet above the ground, a buffet was felt, indicating an impending stall condition.
In an effort to prevent a full power-on stall, the pilot pushed the control stick forward and simultaneously reduced engine power. Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft lost altitude rapidly and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude of approximately 4 degrees.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's narrative regarding the takeoff performance and the subsequent aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft. Examination of the flight dynamics revealed that the early initiation of the climb, combined with low airspeed, led to an aerodynamic stall before a safe altitude could be regained.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to this accident. The primary issue was stall during takeoff. The pilot's decision to rotate and climb at only 200 feet of ground roll likely resulted in insufficient airspeed for the aircraft type. Additionally, the corrective action of reducing power while already in a low-energy state may have exacerbated the loss of lift. The final impact attitude confirms that the aircraft was unable to maintain controlled flight after the stall occurred.