Incident Overview
An aircraft crashed in an uncontrolled attitude near the runway from which it had recently departed. The impact left a 40-degree downward swath cut through trees leading to a crater in the ground.
Engine Examination
The engine was removed from the crash site and examined. Nothing was found that would prevent normal operation.
Witness Account
A witness reported seeing the aircraft shortly after liftoff at about 300 feet above ground level. The aircraft appeared to be almost in a stall. The engine sounded smooth but was not running at full speed. The aircraft also appeared heavy and sluggish.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the weather consisted of light rain or mist.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft disappeared from the witness's range of sight and was not seen again. The crash site was located the following day, aided by signals from the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT).