Flight Details
According to the pilot’s family, the purpose of the flight was to transport the passenger to Sugarland Regional Airport in Houston, Texas. The passenger’s family stated the flight was for a medical appointment. ADS-B data showed the airplane departed Gonzales Regional Airport at 1456 and landed at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport at 1511.
Passenger Boarding and Pre-Takeoff
Upon landing at PTN, the airplane taxied to the fixed-base operator and idled while the passenger boarded. Video footage showed the passenger pulling a rolling suitcase to the airplane. After boarding, the pilot exited, walked to the left side of the airplane, and appeared to inspect something. He then reboarded and taxied to runway 24 for departure. The pilot announced departure on the common traffic advisory frequency; no further transmissions were heard.
Accident Sequence
No ADS-B data were available for the takeoff. Video footage captured part of the accident, showing the airplane in an extreme, nose-low attitude while rolling inverted and impacting a field near the departure end of runway 24.
Witness Observations
A witness driving near an intersection west of PTN observed the airplane shortly after departure. She reported it was “tilted to the left,” turned on its side, and entered a nosedive. She saw the airplane impact the field, explode, and both the wreckage and surrounding area catch fire. She could not determine if the engines sounded abnormal due to her driving, nor did she see smoke or flames before impact. From her position, the airplane did not appear to be attempting to return to the airport.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The airplane was destroyed by post-crash fire, and both occupants were killed. The official probable cause was determined to be the pilot’s failure to properly set the elevator trim before takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.