Overview
An aircraft crashed shortly after liftoff while operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The accident occurred during the departure phase of flight, with the aircraft descending to the ground after becoming airborne.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had been cleared for a right turn after departure. However, the air traffic controller observed the aircraft turning left at an altitude of about 50 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot later reported being unable to stop the aircraft from drifting to the left.
During the event, the landing gear was raised. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose of the aircraft to increase airspeed. The aircraft subsequently banked to the left, though the pilot reported leveling the wings prior to impact with the ground. The aircraft never reached the departure end of the runway and crashed approximately 250 yards from the side of the runway.
Investigation
Examination of the aircraft's control system did not reveal evidence of any malfunction. The investigation focused on the flight path and pilot actions, but no specific cause was determined from the available evidence.
No other contributing factors were identified in the source material.