Incident Details
According to witness accounts, the aircraft touched down on the runway, after which a sound of power application was heard. The aircraft then departed in a nose-high attitude. During this departure, the left wing of the aircraft struck an approximately 70-foot-tall tree located about 600 feet from the end of the runway and 200 feet to the left of the extended runway centerline.
Wreckage and Fire
Following the impact, a post-crash fire consumed the wreckage. The ground impact occurred approximately one-quarter of a mile from the north end of the runway.
Engine Examination
The rear propeller was found in a feathered position. Disassembly of the impact- and fire-damaged engine revealed no mechanical malfunction.
Conclusion
The investigation into this event did not identify a specific cause. The available evidence, including eyewitness statements and physical examination of the wreckage, did not point to any mechanical failure or other determining factor.