Accident Overview
An airplane conducting a low pass over the runway at high speed with the landing gear retracted experienced a propeller strike on the runway surface. According to witness accounts and wreckage examination, the sequence began as the aircraft flew a step-down descent along the length of the runway.
Sequence of Events
When the airplane was approximately 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway, the propeller made contact with the pavement. The pilot then executed a pull-up maneuver, initiating a climb. After climbing about 400 feet, the airplane rolled to the right, entered a descent, and subsequently crashed. A fire ignited after impact.
Post-Impact Examination
Witnesses and the subsequent wreckage examination indicated that the engine was operating at the time of impact. Investigators found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical problem with the airplane.