Witness Observations
After the airplane took off, multiple witnesses reported seeing it in a nose-high attitude, at low airspeed, and with the wings 'wobbling'. One witness, a pilot, stated that the airplane stalled and spun once.
Pilot's Takeoff Technique
The pilot had been previously admonished for regularly making soft-field takeoffs, which involved holding full aft control stick, lifting off in a nose-high attitude, and then climbing at a steep angle of attack. The pilot's son, a student pilot who was in the front seat, had expressed apprehension about using this takeoff technique, particularly in high-density altitude conditions.
Weight and Density Altitude
At the time of the accident, the airplane was determined to be 219 pounds over the maximum certificated gross weight. The density altitude was computed to be 10,920 feet.