Incident Overview
The accident occurred during a flight that combined personal, business, and instructional purposes. The instructor pilot, a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), occupied the right front seat, while the other pilot—holding single-engine, multi-engine, and commercial ratings—was seated in the left front seat.
Sequence of Events
According to one of the pilots, the nose gear collapsed as the aircraft was on the takeoff roll. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted a runway light and a taxiway indicator, crossed a taxiway, and struck a ditch. Upon impact with the taxiway indicator light structure, the left wing was damaged and erupted in fire.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined no reason for the nose gear to retract or collapse. The cause of the gear failure remains undetermined.