Landing Events
Video cameras at Paine Field recorded the airplane crossing the threshold of runway 16L with the right wing rising. The airplane touched down approximately 200 feet from the end of the runway. A black skid mark was found on the left side of the runway; another skid mark parallel and 10 feet left of the first mark began 20 feet later in the grass. Both parallel marks veered left until they were entirely in the grass. A third skid mark was observed between the first two. On taxiway F-2, which was perpendicular to runway 16L and the skid marks, a 36-inch long silver score mark was found parallel to the three grass skid marks. Wreckage examination later revealed that the airplane's tailskid assembly had been ground down. Approximately 20 feet off the F-2 taxiway, an airport breakaway sign was broken from its mounts, and a black tire mark was found in its center.
Communications
After landing, the pilot transmitted to the ATC controller: "Paine Tower, Cherokee 5FN, something there happened, I don't know not sure what it doesn't feel right. Can you see my wheels?" Tower responded: "Cherokee 5FN roger, we're looking, [your] wheels appear normal." The pilot said: "I'm at a steep angle at full power [and] hardly climbing." Tower asked: "Are your flaps up?" The pilot replied: "[The] flaps are up."
Departure and Witness Observations
The airplane had two Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagle participants on board. According to event organizers, the airplane was scheduled to land at Paine Field to allow the two participants to exchange seats before returning to Boeing Field. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane depart on the runway heading at a very low altitude. One witness stated that the airplane never got higher than 100 to 150 feet, and the pilot kept pulling the nose up at a very steep angle (about 45 degrees) and then pushing the nose down. The witness noted: "I never saw him push the nose down enough to gain much air speed. I thought he was going to stall it at least once above the runway. I saw him go through this cycle 4 or 5 times before he went out of sight behind the hangar." Another witness reported: "He was not gaining altitude. The plane was pitching up and down. I watched it fly over some trees, then it started losing altitude and it disappeared behind the trees."
Crash
Three witnesses working near the crash site reported hearing "a loud snap of breaking tree tops." One of these witnesses stated that he saw the airplane's right wing hit the trees, after which the airplane spun right and went nose first to the ground. A postimpact fire ensued.