Accident Sequence
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft began a rolling motion to the left. The pilot applied right roll control inputs, but instead of correcting the roll, the aircraft accelerated its left roll. When the bank angle reached approximately 80 degrees, the aircraft descended and impacted the runway surface.
Flight Purpose
The flight was intended as a post-maintenance test flight following the installation of a replacement set of wings.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection determined that the ailerons had been misrigged. Specifically, they were configured to deflect opposite to the corresponding control inputs from the pilot. This resulted in a control reversal: when the pilot commanded a right roll, the ailerons deflected to produce a left roll, and vice versa.
Pre-Flight Checks
Neither the pilot nor the mechanic who accompanied him on the flight detected the aileron reversal during the walk-around inspection or the pre-takeoff flight control test. The misrigging remained undiscovered until the post-accident examination.