20010616034159A

(.4) History of flight: on June 16, 2001, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7106T, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private airstrip (VT43) near Newfane, Vermont. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined for north windham airport (3N3), londonderry, Vermont. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to witnesses, the pilot flew to VT43, and dropped off two passengers. He then departed on runway 15, a 2000-foot long, 40-foot wide turf runway. The airplane flew approximately 10 feet above a tractor that was mowing the lawn on the adjacent property. The airplane then banked left, made a "half-circle" turn, and "nosed in." Another witness stated that he was approximately 1/2 mile from the accident site. He did not see the airplane, but heard the takeoff. The witness said that he heard the engine operating with no sputtering. He did not hear the engine for 1-2 seconds, and then heard the "crunch" of the impact. The witness could not be sure if the engine stopped for the 1-2 seconds, or the airplane turned away from his position. Theaccident occurred during the hours of daylight; located about 43 degrees 01.03 minutes north latitude, and 72 degrees 39.05 minutes west longitude. (-23) according to witnesses, the aircraft landed at VT43, dropped off 2 passengers, then departed on runway 15, a 2,000' long x 40' wide turf runway. The closest weather reporting station was keen, NH, which reported wind 200 @11 knots gusting 16, 9 statue miles visibility, 4200 scattered, temperature 31, dewpoint 20, altimeter 29.93. The aircraft started a left turn at a very low altitude immediately after take off, impacting the ground at an inverted attitude and slightly left wing down. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. Both Cessna and Continental representatives were unable to find anything wrong with the aircraft.