What happened
The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from runway 06. The pilot initiated a maneuver to simulate an engine failure at an altitude of approximately 400 to 500 feet above ground level. Following this simulation, he executed a 180-degree turn back toward the airport in an attempt to practice a forced landing procedure. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sink rate that exceeded the pilot's expectations. In response, the pilot applied full throttle; however, the engine failed to respond as intended. The aircraft subsequently impacted grassy terrain located short of and to the right of the runway, sliding approximately 130 feet before coming to rest. A fire broke out after the impact.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed that the pilot had accumulated a total of 11 flight hours in this specific make and model, all of which were logged in the accident aircraft. The pilot noted that the aircraft had been stored unused for three years prior to his purchase. Although the aircraft had received an annual inspection just one week before the accident, the engine carburetor was reportedly equipped with a 'leather-skirt' type accelerator pump, a component known to be susceptible to wear and potential failure in older installations.
Findings
The pilot's limited experience in this specific aircraft type, combined with the mechanical condition of the carburetor accelerator pump, played significant roles in the outcome. The inability of the engine to respond to throttle input during a critical phase of flight prevented the pilot from recovering from the high sink rate encountered during the turn back.