What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During takeoff at approximately 20'- 30' the control stick started shaking violently fore and aft. Pilot decided to continue the flight vice putting it back on the ground because he didn't think he had enough runway remaining and would've gone into the trees at the end of the runway. Pilot looked back and saw the elevator vibrating but could not see the entire elevator to determine what was causing the vibration due to being strapped in and having a limited field of view. Pilot was able to put in elevator inputs but no great corrections only what was required to fly. Pilot maintained a speed between 70-75 mph, which is 10 mph slower than he usually flies the pattern. While turning from downwind to base nose pitched over and the airplane departed flight and impacted the ground.
As the FAA filed it
DURING TAKEOFF AT APPROXIMATELY 20'- 30' THE CONTROL STICK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY FORE AND AFT. PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT VICE PUTTING IT BACK ON THE GROUND BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK HE HAD ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING AND WOULD'VE GONE INTO THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT LOOKED BACK AND SAW THE ELEVATOR VIBRATING BUT COULD NOT SEE THE ENTIRE ELEVATOR TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATION DUE TO BEING STRAPPED IN AND HAVING A LIMITED FIELD OF VIEW. PILOT WAS ABLE TO PUT IN ELEVATOR INPUTS BUT NO GREAT CORRECTIONS ONLY WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO FLY. PILOT MAINTAINED A SPEED BETWEEN 70-75 MPH, WHICH IS 10 MPH SLOWER THAN HE USUALLY FLIES THE PATTERN. WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE NOSE PITCHED OVER AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FLIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.