August 2, 2012, Truckee, Calif., Piper PA-24-250 Comanche

At about 0814 Pacific time, the airplane sustained substantial damage upon impacting a hangar during takeoff. The solo commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Originally, the pilot and two passengers aborted a takeoff and landed uneventfully on the remaining runway. The pilot then had both passengers exit the airplane while the engine was still running and taxied back to Runway 19. On the second takeoff, the airplane lifted off normally, entered a nose-high attitude as if it was going to “stall,” then descended into an airplane hangar. The engine sounded normal and appeared to be producing power.

Key Takeaways:

• A solo commercial pilot was fatally injured after their airplane crashed into a hangar during a second takeoff attempt.
• The incident followed an initial aborted takeoff with passengers, who disembarked before the pilot's second, fatal attempt.
• After lifting off, the airplane entered a nose-high, "stall-like" attitude before descending into the hangar, despite the engine sounding normal.

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