Event Description
The airplane departed from an airport on a left downwind departure. After reaching approximately 300 feet altitude, it banked steeply and dove into the ground. Witnesses reported that the takeoff ground roll extended to midfield of the runway, a distance of 4,850 feet before lift-off. According to the Airplane Flight Manual performance charts, the normal ground roll should have been about 2,100 feet. While turning crosswind, the airplane steepened its bank and continued toward the downwind. As the angle of bank approached 90 degrees, the nose dropped and the airplane descended, striking trees and the ground. Several trees were hit before the airplane came to rest in the backyard of a residence. The airplane was thermally destroyed in the impact sequence and subsequent post-crash fire.
Aircraft Weight and Balance
Calculations of the airplane's weight and balance data indicated that it was at least 251 pounds over the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight.
Examination of Wreckage
Remaining wreckage not consumed in the ground fire was examined. The engine was sent to the manufacturer for inspection, and no discrepancies were found. Cockpit instrumentation and all autopilot components were thermally destroyed. The flaps and landing gear were found in the retracted position, and the elevator trim surface was slightly nose-up from the takeoff setting. The autopilot had a reported history of malfunction, and the electric elevator trim system was scheduled for repair a week before the accident, but the owner took the airplane prior to the work being performed. The airplane had been modified with the addition of several Supplemental Type Certificates, including a wing spoiler system. The controls and many actuating linkages for the spoiler system were destroyed in the fire.
Probable Cause
The official finding stated the probable cause as: The pilot's in-flight loss of control in the takeoff initial climb for undetermined reasons.