What happened
During a nighttime departure from Rochester-Greater Rochester Airport, an aircraft entered a fatal accident sequence immediately following liftoff. While the aircraft was in its initial climb phase, the pilot executed a low-level turn shortly after leaving the ground. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the plane, leading to a crash at the scene.
There was only one person on board during the flight. The pilot was the sole occupant and was killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the operation of the flight. It was determined that the pilot failed to properly manage and maintain the necessary airspeed during the maneuver. Additionally, the investigation noted issues regarding pilot fatigue, noting that the pilot had completed 8 hours of flight time within the previous 24-hour period. Ultimately, the crash was attributed to improper in-flight decisions or planning.