What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Witnesses stated that during runup and during takeoff the engine (corvair) sounded normal. Takeoff roll was unusually long (2800 +/- ft) from runway 34. Aircraft climb performance was lacking, having to make a RH turn to go around stand of trees. Normally climb was estimated to be between 500 and 1000 fpm. On that day, maybe 25 to 50 fpm. During testing pilot had reportedly carried ballast weighting up to 190 lbs (wife weighed 120 lbs). Full fuel equaled 23 gal, (123 lbs). Max altitude estimated to be 200 feet max. Pilot reportedly attempted to make a series of LH turns and return to airport. Bank angle estimated to momentarily reach 90 degrees before dropping into trees and exploding. Unable to establish whether the PIC obtained a weather briefing. All calls were unreturned.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING RUNUP AND DURING TAKEOFF THE ENGINE (CORVAIR) SOUNDED NORMAL. TAKEOFF ROLL WAS UNUSUALLY LONG (2800 +/- FT) FROM RUNWAY 34. AIRCRAFT CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS LACKING, HAVING TO MAKE A RH TURN TO GO AROUND STAND OF TREES. NORMALLY CLIMB WAS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 500 AND 1000 FPM. ON THAT DAY, MAYBE 25 TO 50 FPM. DURING TESTING PILOT HAD REPORTEDLY CARRIED BALLAST WEIGHTING UP TO 190 LBS (WIFE WEIGHED 120 LBS). FULL FUEL EQUALED 23 GAL, (123 LBS). MAX ALTITUDE ESTIMATED TO BE 200 FEET MAX. PILOT REPORTEDLY ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SERIES OF LH TURNS AND RETURN TO AIRPORT. BANK ANGLE ESTIMATED TO MOMENTARILY REACH 90 DEGREES BEFORE DROPPING INTO TREES AND EXPLODING. UNABLE TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE PIC OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING. ALL CALLS WERE UNRETURNED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.