Improper Elevator Trim Setting Leads to Departure Accident at Fly-In

Accident Overview

On the day of the accident, the private pilot arrived at a turf strip to attend a fly-in event. During the departure, the pilot stated that he applied full aft yoke during the takeoff roll and lifted off with a nose-high attitude. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane banked left and descended into a cornfield, resulting in damage to the firewall.

Pilot Report

The pilot attributed the nose-high attitude immediately after takeoff to an improper nose-up trim setting. He reported that he had not set the airplane's elevator trim to the takeoff position in accordance with the before-takeoff checklist. The pilot noted no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.