Accident Sequence
According to the student pilot, during climb out he heard a strange noise from the engine compartment. The certified flight instructor (CFI) then took control of the airplane. The student pilot reported that the airplane entered a right bank and the stall warning horn briefly sounded. A witness observed that after takeoff, the airplane did not seem to gain altitude or airspeed, and then was seen descending in a right bank. The airplane collided with the ground and came to rest upright in a field approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the departure end of runway 36.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage site revealed the airplane came to rest upright with both wings attached to the fuselage. Both wings were crushed aft and both wingtips were separated from both wings. Buckling was observed over the top portion of the wing skin on both wings. The empennage was separated from the fuselage aft of the rear passenger seats. The engine compartment was displaced up and aft into the cockpit area.
Fuel System Examination
A review of information on file with the FAA Aircraft Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the airplane was granted a Supplemental Type Certificate on December 12, 1984, authorizing the use of unleaded automotive fuel. Examination of the fuel system disclosed automotive fuel that was brown in color and contained debris and water. Water was observed in both fuel tanks and in the fuel strainer. The carburetor bowl, fuel inlet chamber, and fuel screen were stained and contained dirt and debris. During the post-accident examination of the engine and airframe, no mechanical anomalies were identified.
The CFI maintained a 55-gallon plastic refueling tank at the airport where the airplane was parked. Examination of the refueling tank revealed approximately one-fourth of an inch of sediment at the bottom of the tank. The fuel was brown in color and contained water and debris that was brown in color. The fuel filter on the tank was dark in color and contained sediment, and debris was observed around the seal of the fuel tank.