Accident Sequence
The airplane departed on a cross-country flight with a pilot and three passengers. According to a witness standing in front of the airport office building, the takeoff on runway 31 began normally. However, within a few hundred feet, the climb became steeper than normal. The airplane started banking to the left while continuing to climb. It appeared to stall while still banking left, then nosed down and impacted the ground.
The surviving passenger reported that the takeoff roll was normal. Shortly after takeoff, she felt as though the right wing and nose were abruptly lifted up, as if someone pulled her backwards by the shoulders. At the same time, the pilot made a loud exclamation. Through the pilot's side window, she saw the airplane's height was just above trees parallel to the runway. She saw the ground, felt the airplane veer left, and knew impact was imminent.
Wreckage and Examination
Examination of the wreckage at the accident site indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a left wing low and nose low attitude. No evidence was found of pre-impact mechanical discrepancies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation.
Pilot Information
According to his logbook, the pilot had accumulated about 126 hours total flight time, of which 3.4 hours were in the accident airplane. No record was found of the pilot receiving any flight instruction from a certified flight instructor in the accident airplane or in any other complex airplane. In the endorsements section of the pilot's logbook, the endorsement required by 14 CFR Part 61.31(e), which certifies proficiency to operate a complex airplane, was blank.