What happened
The crew had been performing touch-and-go landings for approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. During the climb-out from runway 27, at an altitude of roughly 300 to 500 feet above ground level, a witness observed the aircraft perform a wing rock to the right. After the wings momentarily leveled, the left wing and the nose dropped to the left, causing the airplane to descend straight down.
The investigation
Mechanical examination of the engine propeller blade revealed leading edge damage along with chordwise scratching on both the front and back of the blade. The propeller dome showed evidence of rotational and torque signatures. Investigators confirmed continuity through the flight controls and the engine drive train. Additionally, fuel samples collected from the left wing were tested, which determined that one sample was contaminated with water.