November 5, 2011, Williston, Fla., Beech D-45 (T-34 Mentor)

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1644 Eastern time following loss of control during initial climb. The flight instructor and private pilot were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to witnesses, the airplane lifted off after a ground run of approximately 400 feet. It then leveled off and accelerated. At the end of the runway, it pitched up “aggressively” to a 60-to-70-degree nose-up attitude, climbed momentarily, then yawed and rolled to the left while pitching nose down.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane experienced a fatal crash, killing both the flight instructor and private pilot, and sustaining substantial damage after losing control during the initial climb phase.
Witnesses observed the aircraft pitch aggressively to a 60-70 degree nose-up attitude at the end of the runway, following an initial takeoff and acceleration.
After this aggressive pitch, the airplane yawed, rolled left, pitched nose down, and rapidly descended "like a rock," impacting left wing first after striking a tree.

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According to witnesses, the airplane lifted off after a ground run of approximately 400 feet. It then leveled off and accelerated. At the end of the runway, it pitched up “aggressively” to a 60-to-70-degree nose-up attitude, climbed momentarily, then yawed and rolled to the left while pitching nose down. The nose of the airplane then oscillated up and down and the airplane “fell like a rock,” disappearing behind trees. The airplane came to rest after impacting left wing first in a shallow nose-down pitch attitude after striking the top of a tree. There was no debris path.