What happened
During a nighttime takeoff, an unidentified aircraft collided with terrain approximately 1/2 mile south of the departure airport. A police officer witnessed the aircraft taxiing to the runway but did not observe the actual takeoff. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were characterized by high winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
A passenger traveling in a vehicle on a highway located 1500 feet west of the accident site reported seeing what appeared to be a "shooting star." This individual noted that their driving speed was slower than usual due to the heavy rainfall.
Information regarding the pilot's recent flight history indicates that his previous flight had occurred 92 days, or exactly three calendar months, prior to this accident. Additionally, the pilot had previously expressed to family members a requirement to complete three takeoffs and landings before midnight to avoid the loss of his license.