What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from runway 23 at Richmond Municipal Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden change in attitude. While attempting to reach a climb speed of 48 knots, the plane's nose pitched upward before the aircraft entered a left bank. This maneuver led to a crash into a nearby cornfield.
Despite the impact, all 42 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage. Among those on board, three individuals sustained injuries during the accident. The aircraft was determined to be a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the aircraft entered a stall while climbing. This aerodynamic stall was triggered by a mechanical failure within the elevator tab control system. Specifically, investigators discovered that the elevator swage fitting was binding against the bulkhead raceway station 63, which prevented proper control surface movement.