What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The PIC stated that earlier on the day of the accident (1/9/16) he had made a successful flight around the traffic pattern in N72MT and then landed and shut down. The PIC estimated 5-10 minutes later he had taken off on the mishap flight.
The takeoff leg was uneventful and the PIC stated he remembered climbing at approximately 65 mph. The PIC stated that best rate of climb for this aircraft is 55-60 mph.
On crosswind at approximately 300' to 400' AGL the PIC stated he noticed the electrical smell of "burning wires" and may have seen a wisp of smoke. The engine sputtered and then died approximately 1-2 seconds later.
The PIC stated things happened very fast after this. He made a radio call and turned back towards the airport but admittedly may have failed to lower the nose to capture best glide speed. After this the PIC stated the aircraft stalled left wing first, began to spin, and shortly thereafter hit the ground in a high rate of descent.
The PIC stated stall speed for this aircraft is 37-40 mph in straight and level flight.
Upon hitting the ground the aircraft cartwheeled and came to a rest inverted. The PIC was seriously injured in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
THE PIC STATED THAT EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT (1/9/16) HE HAD MADE A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN IN N72MT AND THEN LANDED AND SHUT DOWN. THE PIC ESTIMATED 5-10 MINUTES LATER HE HAD TAKEN OFF ON THE MISHAP FLIGHT.
THE TAKEOFF LEG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE PIC STATED HE REMEMBERED CLIMBING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE PIC STATED THAT BEST RATE OF CLIMB FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 55-60 MPH.
ON CROSSWIND AT APPROXIMATELY 300' TO 400' AGL THE PIC STATED HE NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL SMELL OF "BURNING WIRES" AND MAY HAVE SEEN A WISP OF SMOKE. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THEN DIED APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS LATER.
THE PIC STATED THINGS HAPPENED VERY FAST AFTER THIS. HE MADE A RADIO CALL AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT BUT ADMITTEDLY MAY HAVE FAILED TO LOWER THE NOSE TO CAPTURE BEST GLIDE SPEED. AFTER THIS THE PIC STATED THE AIRCRAFT STALLED LEFT WING FIRST, BEGAN TO SPIN, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER HIT THE GROUND IN A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT.
THE PIC STATED STALL SPEED FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 37-40 MPH IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT.
UPON HITTING THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO A REST INVERTED. THE PIC WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.