Accident Flight
The accident flight was the second of the day for the pilot, commencing immediately after landing from the previous skydive drop flight. The pilot did not perform weight and balance calculations before the flight; however, postaccident calculations indicated that the airplane was under gross weight and the center of gravity was within limits. The pilot reported having no memory of the accident flight.
Witness Observations
After the airplane was loaded and taxied to runway 11, the pilot began the takeoff. Witnesses and a pilot-rated passenger inside the airplane reported that following rotation, the airplane pitched up. The pilot-rated passenger, who was seated behind the pilot, moved forward and observed the pilot moving the manual elevator trim wheel in the nose-down direction. Subsequently, the airplane was observed to stall, pitch nose down, and collide with terrain.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the flaps were extended 20 degrees, and the elevator trim was found set 10 degrees trailing edge tab down (aircraft nose-up). The maximum elevator trim trailing edge down takeoff setting per the airplane's documentation is 4 degrees. The airplane's Owner's Manual before takeoff checklist specifies setting the elevator trim to the takeoff setting. The pilot reported that on two previous takeoffs in the accident airplane, the elevator trim had been positioned full nose-up, and on those occasions, he moved the trim to the nose-down direction and continued the takeoff. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction was noted in the flight controls for roll, pitch, yaw, or pitch trim. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.