Accident Details
The airplane crashed at night approximately 800 feet beyond the end of the runway after an aborted landing. The pilot, who had received his private pilot certificate six days before the accident, had accumulated six hours of night flight time. The pilot did not recall the circumstances of the accident.
A passenger reported that the airplane landed hard. The pilot then increased power, and the airplane lifted off, initiated a left turn, and subsequently descended to the ground. Witnesses observed the airplane barely clearing a row of trees, after which the nose pitched up and the wings began to rock back and forth. According to witnesses, the engine was operating throughout the event.
The airplane struck the ground with its left wing and came to rest inverted.
Investigation
Examination of the engine revealed that the flaps were in the retracted position and the elevator trim tab actuator corresponded to a nose-up setting of approximately 5 to 10 degrees. The examination did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction.