Flight Details
A crew consisting of a pilot-in-command, a 7-year-old trainee (passenger), and her father (passenger) were conducting a transcontinental record attempt. The planned flight covered 6,660 miles over 8 consecutive days. The first leg, approximately 8 hours, had been completed the previous day with considerable media attention.
Preflight and Weather
On the morning of the second day, the pilot-in-command and the trainee participated in media interviews, preflighted the aircraft, and loaded it. The pilot received a weather briefing advising moderate icing conditions, turbulence, IFR flight precautions, and a cold front near the departure airport. The aircraft taxied in rain for takeoff on runway 30. During taxi, the pilot acknowledged receiving information that the wind was from 280 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 30 knots, and that a departing Cessna 414 pilot had reported moderate low-level windshear of plus or minus 15 knots.
Departure and Accident
The aircraft departed on runway 30 toward a nearby thunderstorm and began a gradual turn to an easterly heading. Witnesses described the climb rate and speed as slow, and observed the aircraft enter a roll and descent consistent with a stall. The density altitude at the airport was 6,670 feet. The aircraft's gross weight was calculated to be 84 pounds over the maximum limit at the time of impact.
Additional Information
Further details are available in the NTSB/AAR-97/02 report.