What happened
The incident occurred just two minutes after the aircraft departed runway 23 at Lawrenceville-George AFB. During the initial climb phase, while ascending to an altitude of approximately 400 feet, the airframe experienced a stall. The loss of control led to a crash in a field situated about two miles from the airbase. The impact forces destroyed the aircraft completely. Both individuals on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation identified procedural failures as the primary contributing factor. It was determined that the crew failed to properly prepare the flight and did not adhere to the required pre-departure checklist. Specifically, the loss of control was attributed to the fact that the elevator gust locks had not been removed before takeoff. This oversight prevented proper elevator function during the climb, leading directly to the stall.