What happened
The incident occurred immediately following departure from runway 13 at Sedalia AFB. While the aircraft was climbing to an altitude of approximately 500 feet, it experienced a stall. This loss of lift led directly to a crash that involved a significant explosion. Both individuals on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary issue stemmed from inadequate pre-flight procedures. The crew failed to conduct a thorough inspection of the aircraft before departure. Specifically, the elevator gust locks remained installed during the flight. These locks prevented the control surfaces from moving, rendering the aircraft incapable of achieving a proper climb attitude after takeoff.