What happened
The pilot reported that the aircraft began to fishtail during the takeoff roll. As the aircraft lost directional control, it veered off the side of the runway and headed toward a nearby canal. The pilot elected to attempt to fly over the canal rather than impact it directly.
The aircraft became airborne and traveled approximately one-quarter mile. During this flight, the pilot observed trees ahead in the path of travel. In an effort to avoid the obstruction, the pilot initiated a shallow turn. However, the maneuver caused the aircraft to lose airspeed rapidly, resulting in a stall. The aircraft then crashed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during takeoff. Examination of the flight dynamics indicated that the initial fishtailing compromised directional stability on the ground. Once airborne, the low altitude and airspeed left insufficient margin for recovery from the stall induced by the evasive turn.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the loss of directional control during the takeoff roll and the subsequent stall during the post-takeoff maneuver. The pilot's decision to attempt a go-around or fly over an obstacle at low altitude with limited airspeed resulted in an unrecoverable stall condition.
Safety message
Pilots must maintain strict directional control during takeoff. If a runway excursion becomes imminent, assessing the option of aborting the takeoff before reaching critical speeds is vital. Once airborne at low altitude, pilots should prioritize maintaining airspeed and avoiding steep or sharp turns that could induce a stall, especially when obstacles are present.