Incident Overview
Shortly after takeoff from the Decatur Pryor Airport in Decatur, Alabama, witnesses observed an airplane at an estimated altitude of 100 to 150 feet above a tree line near the crash site. The airplane was described as nose-high and slow, and no engine sound was heard. Witnesses reported that the airplane nosed up slightly, rolled left, then pitched nose down before colliding with the ground.
Wreckage Location and Examination
The airplane wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area near a cotton field, approximately 5.6 nautical miles southwest of the airport. On-scene examination revealed the airplane resting on its partially extended landing gear on a magnetic heading of 095 degrees, with the engine in a 45-degree nose-down angle.
Cockpit and Fuel System Findings
Examination of the cockpit found the fuel selector positioned on the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank was intact and contained 3 ounces of fuel. No fuel was found in the engine fuel lines or the fuel pump.
Mechanical Condition
According to the report, no mechanical problems were reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane.