Preflight and Frost Removal
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator on September 2, the pilot stated that during his preflight inspection, he observed frost on the wings and tail section of the airplane. He described using a rope to remove the frost and believed he had adequately cleaned the lifting surfaces.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that after takeoff from an off-airport gravel bar, the airplane climbed to an altitude between five and ten feet. At that point, the right wing stalled. The right wing then struck the ground, causing the airplane to cartwheel.
Pilot's Statements on Cause
In the interview, the pilot expressed his belief that the frost on the airplane's wings caused the stall. In a subsequent NTSB pilot/operator report written on September 10, the pilot noted that winds were gusty at the time of the accident. He wrote that as soon as the airplane lifted off, a gust 'caught the aircraft and forced the right wing down.'
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, tail assembly, and empennage.