Accident Sequence
During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot of the airplane declared an unspecified emergency with the air traffic control tower and indicated the need to return for landing. A ground witness, a flight instructor, observed the airplane lift off approximately 1,000 feet down the runway. He stated that the nose pitched up rapidly to an "extremely nose high" attitude, causing the airplane to "mush" before leveling off. The landing gear was retracted about midfield, after which the airplane stopped mushing but did not gain significant altitude.
As the airplane reached the end of the runway, it began a right turn. During the turn, the nose rose again, and the airplane began to mush. About 90 degrees into the turn, the airplane was approximately 250 feet above ground level and 75 feet above power lines. At that moment, the left wing rose until the airplane approached a 90-degree angle of bank. The nose then dropped, and the airplane descended straight into the ground.
Postcrash Examination
The airplane was destroyed by the impact sequence and postcrash fire. An examination of the remaining wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The nature of the emergency reported by the pilot was not determined. The witness did not observe any smoke, fluids, or parts separating from the airplane during the entire sequence.