Accident Overview
Witnesses reported hearing the engine run rough during the takeoff roll, but the flight continued to take off. Shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot radioed the tower that he was having engine problems and was executing an off airport forced landing.
Maneuvers and Impact
The airplane was observed to turn to a suitable landing area and initiated a descent. At about 100 feet above ground level, the airplane banked to the left and turned into a residential area. The airplane crashed into a residence and burst into flames.
Engine Examination
Examination of the engine revealed evidence of water ingestion. The airplane had not flown for a week and was stored outside. The rainfall the previous week had been heavy.
Findings
The investigation determined that water ingestion occurred, likely due to the prolonged outdoor storage during heavy rain. No other causal factors were identified in the source material.