Witness Observations
Shortly after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane climb to approximately 400 feet above ground level. They reported that the airplane then pitched nose-up and yawed to the right, entering a descent that was described as vertical. One witness characterized the maneuver as a right-hand spiral before the airplane collided with the ground.
Investigation Findings
An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of failure in the airplane's control system. The airplane was equipped with a mechanically activated landing gear retraction system. This system was operated by the pilot pushing a lever mechanism forward and locking it into place when the lever was parallel to the floor. Notably, the flight control stick and the landing gear retraction lever were positioned directly opposite each other on the airplane's main wing spar.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had accumulated approximately 7 hours of flight time in 1994, all of which were flown in the accident airplane. In the previous year, 1993, the pilot had logged a total of 1.4 hours, conducted in a Cessna 152.