What happened
On July 2, 2008, at approximately 0845 EDT, an amateur-built Lanier James A Talon XP, registration N1974L, crashed during takeoff from Mountain Airpark (0GE5) in Cleveland, Georgia. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions.
A witness observed the aircraft departing from runway 35. The aircraft initially flew level at approximately 50 feet above the runway. When approximately 900 feet of runway remained, the airplane pitched up sharply and climbed to an altitude of about 150 feet. At that point, the aircraft entered a stall and pitched nose down, impacting the ground at a near 60-degree angle. The impact resulted in 1 fatality.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and the accident site. The aircraft was located at the end of the runway overrun area and sustained heavy fire damage. The right wing showed deflection consistent with contact with a fence pole, and the left wing was damaged at the aft rear wing mount. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were broken at the tail boom, with fractures consistent with an overload. The propeller blades had separated from the nosecone hub.
Mechanical examination of the airframe and engine revealed no obvious deficiencies. Maintenance records showed no recent issues other than a previously corrected tail wheel problem, and the last condition inspection had been completed on June 10, 2008.
Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed the presence of doxazosin, a prescription medication used to lower blood pressure, in the blood and urine. The autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma of the chest.