What happened
On the morning of the accident, an aircraft departed from Runway 10 at Statesville Airport at 10:06 local time, bound for Sarasota-Bradron. Shortly after the departure, the aircraft reached a peak altitude of approximately 4,500 feet. During this climb, the pilot contacted air traffic control to report an unforeseen emergency and expressed the intention to return to Statesville Airport.
While executing a left-hand circuit to approach Runway 28, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane impacted the ground and subsequently caught fire. There were seven fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft type.
Findings
Following the loss of control, the aircraft crashed and was consumed by flames. The specific mechanical or operational reason for the loss of control was not detailed in the initial report, though the pilot had previously signaled an unexpected situation during the initial climb phase.