Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilots failure to maintain directional control on the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilots failure to maintain airspeed during the takeoff climb, his inadequate training, his lack of total experience, and the ditch.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
A witness to the accident stated that 'the airplane took off in a very nose high attitude, quit flying, and fell to the ground.' then the airplane went off the left side of the runway and crashed into a large ditch. The unlicensed pilot said he could not remember exactly what happened. The pilot said he had never had any official flight instruction, but had flown three times with a friend during the previous year. The pilot also said this was his second solo flight.
Source record
Factual narrative
-