Accident Sequence
According to witnesses, the airplane taxied to the active runway, which was 5,000 feet long, and departed without performing an engine run-up. One witness reported that the wing flaps were in the retracted position throughout the event. The takeoff roll was described as long, and the airplane remained approximately 10 to 15 feet above the runway as it approached the departure end. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, it suddenly pitched up at a steep angle, climbing to an altitude of about 300 to 400 feet. The airplane then slowed and appeared to stall, rotating approximately 175 degrees on its vertical axis to the left. About halfway through this rotation, a slight pitch-up of the nose was observed, after which the airplane entered a near-vertical dive to the left. The airplane disappeared from view behind a tree line, and two consecutive loud bangs were heard, followed by a fireball and black smoke.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the crash site revealed that the flap jack screw was found in the up position, indicating that the flaps were retracted. According to the pilot operating handbook, the normal procedure for takeoff requires flaps to be extended to 50 percent. Performance data indicates that the takeoff ground distance under normal conditions is 1,776 feet. No anomalies were noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly during the post-accident examination of the wreckage.