Accident Details
An experimental amateur-built airplane was destroyed upon impact with terrain after taking off from runway 27. The pilot had flown the aircraft to the airport to provide rides. After the passengers had received their rides, they watched as the airplane departed. Witnesses at the airport saw the airplane climb out, enter a roll, and complete about half of the roll before it descended below the tops of a corn crop.
Environmental Factors
The recorded wind at the time was 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. Obstructions listed for runway 27 included trees, and an irrigation system was noted as the controlling obstruction in the remarks for that runway.
Wreckage and Inspection
The aircraft came to rest inverted in a cornfield. An on-scene inspection revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
Regulatory Context
Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.303 states, in part: "Aerobatic flight. No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight- ... (c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport; (d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway; (e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or ... For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight." The source did not specify whether this regulation was applicable to the accident.