Accident Details
Approximately two minutes after departure, the aircraft struck the ground with its left wing down, at a measured descent angle of 63 degrees nose-down. The impact occurred well to the left of the designated departure course.
Investigation Findings
A thorough examination of the aircraft revealed no malfunctions or failures in the airframe, powerplant, or any of its systems. All components were found to be operating normally prior to impact.
Pilot Experience
Investigators were unable to determine the pilot's actual instrument flight experience—both total and recent—from the pilot logbook. The pilot had used instrument data blocks to log cross-country time, which obscured the record of actual instrument flight time. The last valid entry for instrument experience was dated October 10, 1981, showing 3.4 hours of actual instrument time and 24.9 hours of simulated instrument time.