Incident Overview
A student pilot was at the controls of an aircraft during a takeoff when a flock of black birds flew into the flight path. According to a witness who observed the takeoff, the aircraft lifted off and climbed to an altitude of 50 to 60 feet. At that point, the birds entered the aircraft's path.
Witness Accounts
The witness, a pilot and airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic, stated that the aircraft then pitched up, yawed slightly, turned about its vertical axis, and subsequently dropped into a ditch. A second witness described the final maneuver as approximately a three-quarter turn before impact with the ground.
Pilot Background
The student pilot, who was unable to recall any details of the accident, had accumulated a total of 46 flight hours, including 5 hours of solo flight time.