What happened
Following a nighttime takeoff, the unidentified aircraft entered a stall and subsequently entered a spin. The aircraft then impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. At the time of the accident, there were 5 persons on board the 4-seat airplane.
The weather conditions during the flight were characterized by bright night visual meteorological conditions with clear skies and visibility of 15 miles. The moon was 29 degrees above the horizon and 59% illuminated.
The investigation
An examination of the engine and the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies prior to the impact. Although the aircraft was carrying five occupants in a four-seat configuration, weight and balance estimates indicated that the aircraft was within allowable limits at the time of the accident.
The pilot, who held commercial and instrument ratings, had 201 hours of experience in this specific make and model. An autopsy of the 22-year-old pilot was conducted. Microscopic examination of the heart showed a 70% narrowing of the atrioventricular (AV) nodal artery. However, pathologists noted that a single focus of inflammation with myocyte necrosis was present, though they stated this finding alone does not warrant a diagnosis of myocarditis as a cause of sudden death.