Incident Overview
According to the pilot's statement, during the takeoff roll he attempted to set the flaps but the first notch did not function. He then applied two notches of flap instead. As the airplane climbed, it began to settle. In response, the pilot selected full flaps. The aircraft subsequently struck the tops of trees and crashed to the ground.
Pilot Background
Three weeks prior to the accident flight, the pilot had surrendered his student pilot certificate. That certificate did not contain any endorsements for solo flight or for operations in tailwheel airplanes.
Technical Details
The report does not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, number of occupants, injuries, damage items, time of day, weather conditions, or any air traffic control involvement. No probable cause was determined in the provided source.