What happened
Shortly after liftoff, the forward baggage door of the airplane opened, causing it to stand upright and vibrate vigorously. The pilot decided to proceed with the takeoff despite this issue. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft in a steep climb at an altitude of roughly 50 feet, performing a shallow left turn with the wings dipping from side to side.
About one mile south of the airport, the aircraft struck a light pole. The plane impacted the ground in a vertical attitude and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was not injured.
During preflight operations, the pilot had removed a quart of oil from the forward baggage compartment to add to the engine oil. While the pilot's written statement indicated that he had locked the door after placing the empty container back inside, during his interview he admitted that he shut the door but failed to lock it.