What happened
A private pilot was operating as part of a volunteer medical transport program to return a passenger from a local hospital. The aircraft arrived at the airport earlier that morning and landed on runway 3/0 under relatively calm conditions. Following the arrival, the pilot met the passengers and prepared for departure. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported beginning the rotation process approximately 3,000 feet down the runway.
As the aircraft reached roughly 3,553 feet along the runway, it was flying at an altitude of about 30 feet. At this stage, the aircraft encountered an aerodynamic stall, causing the left wing to drop and the plane to strike the ground. The accident resulted in one fatality, involving a child passenger, while the pilot and an adult passenger survived with non-life-threatening injuries. The child was being held by her mother during the flight rather than being secured in a seat.
Findings
The investigation confirmed that there were no mechanical issues present that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally. However, the child passenger was not properly restrained in an approved seat, which is a requirement for passengers on U.S.-registered civil aircraft. While the impact itself was considered survivable, the autopsy of the child determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.