Accident Sequence
Witnesses reported that the pilot attempted to start the engine for several minutes. After at least five minutes, the engine started but immediately stopped. The pilot then exited the airplane, performed an unidentified action on the engine, and re-entered. The engine restarted but would not idle normally, requiring a higher power setting to remain running. The pilot maintained this high power setting during taxi and takeoff. One witness, approximately 50 to 75 feet away, heard the engine "struggling."
During the initial climb after takeoff, other witnesses heard three loud noises resembling backfires, followed by silence. One witness observed that the propeller had stopped rotating. All witnesses saw the airplane enter a turn with no engine noise, gliding as if to return to the airport. The aircraft descended below the trees and disappeared from sight, after which a loud boom was heard and smoke was seen rising.
The accident site was located about 0.5 mile from the center of the airport, north of the departure end of runway 05. The airplane had struck trees and impacted the ground, breaking apart during the impact sequence. A post-crash fire ensued. The pilot received fatal injuries.
Examination
A post-accident examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no pre-accident anomalies.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was determined by the investigation.