What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Collided with ground during intial takeoff climb. (.4)the pilot reported that after liftoff, at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet, the engine sputtered and began to lose power. He lowered the nose to prevent a stall and turned left '...to an area and a point where I could put the plane down at.' The airplane touched down, slid into an embankment, and was destroyed by fire. The pilot stated he had the fuel selector positioned on the left fuel tank when he performed the engine run-up and taxi. He then switched the selector to the right tank just before takeoff. (-23) aircraft too, off from Oakland-Troy airport (7D2) and shortly after takeoff lost power (either partial or all). Pilot landed straight ahead in gm parking lot. Aircraft immediately caught on fire and was completely destroyed. There were three people on board and one was injured. Loss of power unknown although possible fuel contamination (water?).
As the FAA filed it
COLLIDED WITH GROUND DURING INTIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER LIFTOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 TO 300 FEET, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO PREVENT A STALL AND TURNED LEFT '...TO AN AREA AND A POINT WHERE I COULD PUT THE PLANE DOWN AT.' THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, SLID INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK WHEN HE PERFORMED THE ENGINE RUN-UP AND TAXI. HE THEN SWITCHED THE SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF. (-23) AIRCRAFT TOO, OFF FROM OAKLAND-TROY AIRPORT (7D2) AND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF LOST POWER (EITHER PARTIAL OR ALL). PILOT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN GM PARKING LOT. AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND ONE WAS INJURED. LOSS OF POWER UNKNOWN ALTHOUGH POSSIBLE FUEL CONTAMINATION (WATER?).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.