Accident Sequence
According to a telephone interview conducted the day after the accident, the pilot waited on a gravel airstrip for a thunderstorm and associated rain to pass before attempting a takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported calm winds. However, during the initial climb, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended, touching down on a sandbar in a river adjacent to the airstrip. The airplane started to climb again, but was forced down by another downdraft, touching down on another sandbar. After a third attempt to climb, the airplane was forced down into the river, where it nosed over.
Pilot Statements
In a subsequent written statement, the pilot wrote, "in retrospect, it appears there was a mysterious loss of power." The pilot further noted that two witnesses stated there was little or no wind, and that the airplane sounded like a normally powered takeoff, but the sound quickly dwindled, as if the throttle was pulled back to abort the takeoff. The pilot's written statement did not provide further explanation for the loss of power.
Environment
The accident occurred on a gravel airstrip near a river. A thunderstorm and associated rain had passed shortly before the takeoff attempt. Winds were reported as calm by the pilot during the takeoff roll, and witnesses described little or no wind at the time.