Accident Overview
A pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, his seat failed unexpectedly. The failure caused him to fall backward, losing access to the flight controls and throttle. As a result, the airplane veered sharply to the left, departing the runway. It subsequently crossed a small ditch and a road before coming to rest in a very large drainage ditch, where it sustained impact damage.
Post-Impact Fire
After the airplane came to a stop, a fire began. The pilot and a passenger were able to depart the aircraft without assistance. The fire, combined with the impact forces, completely demolished the airplane.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the seat assembly but found that fire damage had compromised the seat adjustment mechanism, the seat retention system, and general seat structure. Due to this extensive thermal damage, the exact point of failure could not be determined. Consequently, the specific cause of the seat failure remains unknown.