Flight Sequence
The front seat pilot, on his first flight in the aircraft, was flying after takeoff. The aircraft entered a nose-high attitude because the elevator trim was improperly set. The nose-high attitude was corrected, but the right door on the engine cowling came open during the maneuver. The pilot in the rear cockpit then took control, reduced power, and entered a downwind leg for a cross runway. The rear seat pilot reported trouble seeing the instrument panel because his view was obstructed by the front seat occupant.
Stall and Approach
As the aircraft approached the runway, the rear pilot felt the aircraft was slow and added power. However, the aircraft stalled at about 30 ft above ground level, too low to recover.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that the right rear fastener was worn, and both pilots were aware of the condition prior to takeoff.