Incident Summary
Shortly after takeoff in night instrument meteorological conditions, the second pilot, who had no previous flight time in that make and model of aircraft and was serving as the flying pilot, initiated a right turn from runway heading at an altitude of about 400 to 500 feet above ground level. The maneuver was intended to intercept the outbound radial from the VOR to follow the departure procedure. During the turn, the flight crew felt a "thump," and the right bank angle increased from approximately 25 degrees to 45 degrees. While the second pilot attempted to correct the increasing bank, the aircraft entered a descent at some point.
Pilot Actions
Just before ground impact, which occurred in open terrain approximately one mile south of the runway, the pilot-in-command took control of the aircraft in an effort to level the wings. The aircraft then skipped across the open terrain for several hundred yards before coming to rest on its belly. The aircraft was subsequently consumed by fire. Neither pilot could explain the loss of altitude; both believed they were in a continuous climb during the event, as airspeed and pitch attitude remained constant. Neither pilot recalled scanning the vertical speed indicator or altimeter to verify whether they were indicating a climb or descent.
Post-Accident Findings
During the post-accident inspection of the aircraft, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found, and no evidence of an in-flight collision with an object was noted. At the time of the accident, low freezing fog and reduced visibility were reported.