What happened
The accident occurred during the initial climb phase of flight. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 50 feet, the aircraft began to lose airspeed and descend. The pilot reported that the passenger in the cockpit inadvertently retarded the throttle control. At the time of the incident, the pilot's attention was diverted from the flight instruments and outside environment because he was operating a camcorder to take pictures. With reduced engine power and divided attention, the airplane could not maintain altitude and collided with trees and underbrush located at the end of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control. Evidence indicated that the throttle was moved to a lower power setting by the passenger without pilot input. The primary factor identified was the pilot's distraction due to personal activity during a critical phase of flight.
Findings
The accident was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and altitude during takeoff. Contributing factors included the pilot being distracted by operating a camcorder and the passenger inadvertently retarding the throttle. The combination of these events resulted in a loss of power and control at low altitude.
Safety message
Pilots must maintain full attention on flight operations during critical phases such as takeoff and initial climb. Distractions, including personal activities like photography, should be avoided until the aircraft is safely established in cruise flight. Additionally, passengers should not operate any controls or switches within the cockpit unless explicitly instructed to do so by the pilot.