What happened
The aircraft departed from runway 27 with wind conditions recorded at 060 degrees at 14 knots. Following lift-off, witnesses observed the airplane perform an abrupt climb to an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet. After reaching this altitude, the aircraft entered a left roll; one witness described the maneuver as a half-roll, while another noted it appeared as though the pilot was performing an aerial stunt. The aircraft then entered a descent and crashed.
The investigation
The investigation found no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure. A toxicology examination performed by the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) identified an ethanol concentration of 79.0 mg/dL (0.079%) in the pilot's blood and 128.0 mg/dL (0.128%) in his urine. Additionally, a report from the State of Indiana Pathology Laboratory indicated an ethanol concentration of 71.0 mg/dL (0.071%) in the pilot's blood.