Accident Sequence
The airplane was in a normal-appearing climb after takeoff when it pitched up to a 70 to 80 degree attitude, stalled, dropped the right wing, then leveled the wings and hit the ground in a near-flat attitude. Weight and center of gravity were within limits.
Pilot Statement
The pilot's only memory is that he couldn't get the control column far enough forward to stop the pitch-up.
Post-Accident Examination
No preimpact problems were found that could cause an inadvertent pitch-up. The pilot's seat was found in the full forward position. The right locking pin was in the locking hole, but the left pin was 1/4th of an inch forward of the front locking hole. There were no visible marks on either of the locking pins. Deep scratches were found on the sides of the rail where the seat attachments normally slide back and forth when the seat is adjusted. Examination of the outboard side recessed surface near the aft end disclosed what appeared to be a fresh scratch.
Examination Findings
The seat rail scratches and the misaligned left locking pin were documented. No other anomalies were identified that could account for the pitch-up behavior.