Night Training Flight Collides with Trees and Utility Pole After Takeoff (N4218E)

Accident Details

A student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) were conducting a night training flight, performing touch-and-go landings. The CFI had accumulated approximately 375 hours of total flight time. The accident occurred about 23 minutes after takeoff, when the airplane was loaded approximately 100 pounds over its maximum gross weight limit, according to a review of weight and balance information.

Witness Observations

Two witnesses at the airport observed the flight. They reported that the airplane touched down normally and began a takeoff roll. The initial climb appeared normal until the airplane leveled off at about 150 to 200 feet above the ground. The witnesses continued to watch as the airplane collided with trees and a utility pole approximately one mile from the departure end of Runway 27. The airplane then fell into the front yard of a single-family dwelling. The witnesses noted that the engine sounded normal until the collision with the trees.

Examination

A post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or component failure. The engine was reported to have been running normally prior to impact.