What happened
Following a landing, the main fuel tanks of the unidentified aircraft were refilled, and five people reboarded. At the time of takeoff, the airplane was positioned nose high with the tail nearly touching the ground.
During the initial climb, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude, described as "hanging on the prop." The airplane entered a left downwind turn while maintaining a nose-high attitude. This was followed by a slow loss of altitude that eventually quickened. As the nose fell through, the aircraft entered a sliding left turn and impacted the ground approximately 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. There were 5 occupants on board.
The investigation
Investigators noted that the engine was heard "roaring" prior to the impact. Examination of the propeller blades revealed chordwise scratches, and rotational marks were identified on the starter housing.
Weight and balance calculations indicated the estimated weight of the aircraft was approximately 10 pounds under the maximum gross weight. Center of gravity computations, based on various baggage loading scenarios, placed the center of gravity between 0.3 inches and 1.1 inches forward of the aft limit. Environmental conditions at the time of the accident included a temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and a density altitude of approximately 2,600 feet MSL.