What happened
The pilot resided in close proximity to a private airstrip. A vehicle traveled at high speed across both the airstrip and the adjacent yard, causing significant agitation to the pilot. In response to this incident, the pilot decided to launch his aircraft to locate the vehicle responsible for the intrusion.
During the flight, the pilot executed an abrupt pull-up combined with a steep bank. This maneuver resulted in a loss of control of the aircraft. Subsequently, the left wing impacted the terrain, leading to a crash of the airplane.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events following the vehicle's intrusion. Examination of the flight path and impact damage confirmed that the loss of control occurred during the maneuvering phase of the flight. The structural failure was limited to the left wing striking the ground, consistent with the described loss of control.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform aggressive maneuvers in an attempt to locate a specific vehicle. The abrupt pull-up and steep bank exceeded the aircraft's controllability limits under the circumstances, leading directly to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the terrain.