Sequence of Events
The pilot of the accident airplane encountered difficulty engaging the starter and radioed for assistance. Instructions were given to rotate the ignition switch fully to the right and then push it in, which successfully engaged the starter. Following a taxi to the runway and a run-up check, the pilot departed.
After becoming airborne, the airplane assumed a climb attitude of approximately 10 to 15 degrees and turned left 20 degrees for noise abatement. A witness reported that after completing the turn and reaching an estimated altitude of 200 feet above ground level, the airplane stalled. The nose pitched up and down but remained above the horizon. Subsequently, the right wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to roll inverted and impact the ground in a nose-low attitude.
Examination and Pilot Experience
An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact failures or malfunctions. The pilot had logged a total of 117 hours of flight experience and was signed off to fly the accident airplane approximately two months before the accident. No documentation was found indicating that the pilot had any flight experience in the accident airplane itself.