What happened
The accident occurred during the initial climb phase following takeoff. The pilot reported encountering light turbulence, described as "a little air bump," while maintaining an indicated airspeed between 65 and 70 mph. Following this disturbance, the aircraft began to lose airspeed, decelerating to approximately 55 to 60 mph.
In an attempt to regain airspeed, the pilot pitched the nose of the aircraft downward. This maneuver resulted in a descent into trees. The flight was significant because it represented the pilot's first experience flying this specific aircraft type while loaded to its maximum weight capacity.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the operational parameters at the time of the incident. Key factors included the indicated airspeed decay and the aircraft's weight status. The pilot's lack of prior experience with the aircraft at maximum gross weight was noted as a critical element in the sequence of events.
Findings
Contributing factors to the accident included:
- Operation of the aircraft at its maximum weight limit during the initial climb phase.
- Inadequate airspeed management following turbulence encounter.
- Pilot's lack of experience with the specific aircraft configuration at maximum gross weight.