What happened
Following a rebuild of the unspecified aircraft, the pilot and a mechanic performed a preflight inspection, which included checking the flight controls. Both individuals were satisfied with the apparent airworthiness of the airplane. During the takeoff and initial climb, while at approximately 150 feet above ground level and traveling at 70 mph, the airplane suddenly rolled approximately 90 degrees to the right.
The pilot attempted to correct the roll by applying left aileron and left rudder control, but the aircraft failed to respond to these inputs. In an attempt to maintain airspeed, the pilot retarded the engine power to idle and pushed the control yoke forward. The right wing subsequently struck the runway. The pilot then applied full engine power, at which point the left wing struck the ground. The aircraft landed heavily on the main landing gear and departed the runway area, eventually colliding with a ditch. There were no fatalities reported.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft and its flight controls was conducted. Investigators discovered that the chain control linkage located within the control yoke was misrouted at the base of the control column. This specific routing error resulted in the reversal of aileron activation.