Overview
An airplane stalled into Lake Michigan shortly after takeoff, flipping inverted and sinking. One passenger drowned in the accident. The pilot was the sole occupant to survive.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane decelerated. He applied the brakes and then advanced the throttles to full power, at which point the airplane accelerated. It cleared the end of the runway before stalling into Lake Michigan. After impacting the water, the airplane flipped inverted and sank.
One passenger reported that during the takeoff roll, it felt as if someone had put on the brakes.
Pilot Actions and Aircraft Performance
The pilot used 32 inches of manifold pressure for takeoff, whereas the placarded value was 37.3 inches. According to the pilot operating handbook, normal takeoff speed is 91 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). However, the airplane was equipped with vortex generators. The pilot reported that he was looking for 105 to 110 KIAS for takeoff.
Pilot Qualifications
No evidence was found that the pilot held a multi-engine rating.
Mechanical Findings
No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was discovered during the investigation.