Accident Sequence
During the landing approach, the pilot, who was operating the airplane from the rear seat, cleared the tree line and performed a sideslip maneuver to increase the rate of descent. While between twenty and thirty feet above the ground, the airplane experienced turbulence, which inadvertently caused the pilot to pull the control stick upward. The stick separated from its mounting point on the cabin floor. Without the stick in place, the airplane descended nose-down and struck the ground, bouncing before coming to rest inverted.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he had failed to insert the safety pin that would have secured the stick before the flight. He reported that there were no mechanical failures before impact.
Findings
No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported. The pilot's failure to secure the control stick with the safety pin was noted.