Accident Details
During a touch-and-go landing on a dirt airstrip, the airplane began to rapidly sink after becoming airborne. The pilot asked a passenger in the front seat to retract the flaps, as the control was located near that seat. The pilot applied forward elevator to gain airspeed, but the sink continued. He then elected to land on a dirt road just beyond the runway. During the landing roll, the right wing struck a ditch, causing substantial damage.
Flight History
The pilot was familiarizing himself with the operation of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, intending to use it for flight training. Over the two weeks prior to the accident, he had practiced multiple takeoffs, landings, and touch-and-go landings, many at the same airstrip. On the accident flight, he had requested a volunteer sit in the front seat so he could practice flying from the rear seat. The flight was uneventful until the touch-and-go.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps were still fully extended, indicating the passenger had not retracted them as instructed. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.