Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he was taking off from an off-airport site on a mountain ridge when an updraft lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall that the pilot was unable to recover from before the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was taking off from an off-airport site on a mountain ridge when a updraft lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall that he was unable to recover from before impacting terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.