Accident Summary
The pilot and a passenger departed on a cross-country personal flight in an airplane that the operator had purchased the day before the accident. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11L, the aircraft reached an altitude of about 100 to 150 ft above the runway with a nose-high pitch attitude. At that point, the airplane rolled left until inverted, its nose dropped, and it descended to terrain impact on airport property. The sequence was consistent with an aerodynamic stall.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed propeller strike marks with separation distances consistent with both propellers rotating at the speed required for takeoff and within a normal blade angle range at impact. Both engines displayed rotational scoring signatures indicating symmetric power production, likely operating in the mid-to-upper power range at impact. No pre-impact anomalies or distress were found that would have precluded normal engine operation. Additionally, no preexisting mechanical anomalies were discovered that would have precluded normal airplane operation.
Toxicology Findings
Toxicology testing identified the presence of multiple psychoactive substances in the pilot's system, including marijuana, venlafaxine, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine, clonazepam, and pheniramine. The wide variety of psychoactive effects from these medications precludes predicting specific combined effects. However, it is likely that the pilot was impaired by the combination of these substances, and that impairment likely contributed to his loss of control. The investigation could not obtain medical records regarding any underlying neuropsychiatric diseases, so their potential contribution could not be determined.