May 14, 2011, Arlington, Wash., Czech Aircraft Works Sportcruiser

The light sport airplane collided with terrain after takeoff at about 1600 Pacific time. The private pilot/owner sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and wings from impact forces and a post-crash fire. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplane went to an extremely nose-high attitude after liftoff, estimating it never climbed to more than 100 feet agl.

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Key Takeaways:

  • A light sport airplane crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the fatal injury of the private pilot/owner and substantial damage to the aircraft from impact forces and a post-crash fire.
  • Witnesses observed the airplane climb to an extremely nose-high attitude, never exceeding 100 feet, before entering a steep left bank and then a near-vertical nose-low descent to the ground.
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The light sport airplane collided with terrain after takeoff at about 1600 Pacific time. The private pilot/owner sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and wings from impact forces and a post-crash fire. Visual conditions prevailed.

Witnesses reported the airplane went to an extremely nose-high attitude after liftoff, estimating it never climbed to more than 100 feet agl. The airplane maintained the nose-high attitude as it began to turn back toward the runway and then entered a steep bank to the left, followed by a near-vertical nose-low attitude. The airplane collided with the ground on airport property. It burst into flames about one minute after the ground contact.

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