Circumstances
The accident airplane's co-owner/pilot and a pilot-rated passenger had attended a social function near the airport. They departed around 2125 on a short flight intended to demonstrate the co-owner's recently acquired airplane. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane clipped trees at approximately the 20-foot level, then descended, impacted the ground, and caught fire just short of the runway. The fire largely consumed the airplane.
Post-accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of propeller rotation, suggesting that the engine had ceased operating prior to impact. However, a post-accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation.
A postmortem examination of the pilot found evidence of focal severe coronary atherosclerosis. There was no evidence of smoke inhalation or obviously fatal injuries. Investigators found insufficient evidence to determine conclusively whether or when a cardiac event might have occurred.
Toxicology
Toxicology testing of specimens from the pilot indicated that he was intoxicated by alcohol at the time of the flight and had used marijuana within 10 hours of the accident. The pilot-rated passenger did not hold a current medical certificate.