Event Details
During takeoff roll and climbout, the pilot noted that the airspeed indicator was not registering. Suspecting a blockage, the pilot activated the pitot heat, and the indicator began to function shortly thereafter. While the airplane entered a valley, it abruptly rolled to the right, and the pilot was unable to regain control. The airplane subsequently struck terrain and was consumed by fire. The pilot was rescued three days after the accident.
Pilot Account
The pilot indicated that an erroneous airspeed reading may have resulted in an inadvertent stall. The pilot also expressed the belief that wind shear might have been encountered. The pilot declined to release the pitot tube and airspeed indicator to the Federal Aviation Administration for examination.
Investigation Observations
A Civil Air Patrol pilot observed that the airplane appeared to have forward momentum at the moment of impact. No further details were provided regarding weather conditions or other contributing factors.