Accident Overview
The airplane landed at a private airstrip for reasons not specified in the investigation. After landing, it departed with the engine producing less than takeoff power. Witnesses reported that the airplane climbed slowly and, at about 80 feet above ground level, initiated a left turn. Subsequently, the airplane stalled, nosed over in a left wing low attitude, and impacted the ground nose first.
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any pre-impact conditions that would have prevented the engine from producing takeoff power. Additionally, no airframe failures or malfunctions were found. The airplane was within maximum takeoff weight limitations at the time of the accident.
Pilot Information
The pilot's most recent medical certificate, a second class, was issued on April 23, 1984. At that time, he reported 85 total hours of flight experience. According to a family member, the pilot had quit flying about 30 years prior to the accident due to diabetes and resumed flying after obtaining a Sport Pilot certificate and purchasing the accident airplane. The pilot's flight logbook indicated that he started flying again on December 11, 2004, and had a current flight review at the time of the accident. The last logbook entry, dated August 20, 2006, showed a total of 215 flight hours. The pilot held a valid driver's license, and the airplane met the Light-sport category requirements.
Additional Findings
A self-produced handwritten checklist was found in the wreckage. The first item under the pre-takeoff section of the checklist was "blood sugar test." The pilot's autopsy revealed the use of an insulin pump, which is typically utilized in cases of diabetes that are difficult to control.