What happened
During the takeoff roll, observers noticed that the left rear baggage door on the aircraft was unsecured and hanging open. Although air traffic control notified the pilot of this condition, the aircraft had already become airborne. Shortly after lift-off, the pilot reported experiencing difficulties with the flight controls. The aircraft initially pitched upward aggressively and entered a right bank of approximately 45 degrees. As the landing gear was retracted, the bank angle leveled out to roughly 20 degrees.
As the plane climbed to an altitude of 1,000 feet, it exhibited a side-to-side yawing motion and began circling to the right. The pilot communicated that the controls appeared locked toward one side. In an attempt to maintain flight, the pilot utilized engine power adjustments to manage the aircraft's behavior; however, the plane lost altitude, descending to approximately 200 feet above ground level. During these maneuvers, the aircraft collided with a tree and subsequently struck a utility pole before crashing. The impact caused extensive damage to the lower fuselage area where the flight control linkages are located.
Findings
- The pilot was the sole occupant on board and sustained fatal injuries.
- Investigations identified that the preflight inspection was improper, specifically regarding the unsecured baggage door.
- While the aircraft's controls were reported as locked, no mechanical failures involving the autopilot, trim, or flight control systems were verified prior to impact.
- The crash sequence involved a series of collisions with external objects, including trees and utility poles.