What happened
The incident occurred during the initial phase of flight following takeoff. The aircraft, operated by a private pilot with 5,855 hours of total time, experienced a loss of directional control shortly after leaving the ground. As the aircraft became airborne, it deviated from its intended path and struck a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) light structure. The impact resulted in damage to the left stabilizer and elevator assembly.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis focused on the operational factors leading to the loss of control. The pilot provided a statement regarding the circumstances of the event, attributing the mishap to pilot error. Specifically, the pilot noted that high density altitude conditions contributed to the difficulty in maintaining control.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was identified as the premature lifting of the aircraft's nose during the takeoff roll. The pilot reported attempting to rotate before attaining sufficient airspeed, a critical error exacerbated by the high density altitude environment which reduces aerodynamic efficiency. This action led directly to the stall and subsequent loss of directional control that caused the collision with the ground-based navigation aid.