THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot did takeoff to the north with an immediate right turn, followed by a very steep descending left turn in order to line up again with the north runway, an apparent act of buzzing or impromptu airshow for an observer somewhere on the airport. The airplane was based at the accident pilot’s residence on this airport. A witness near the airport reported that they saw the airplane being taxied to the south end of the runway before it departed to the northeast at about sunrise.
An additional witness near the accident site reported that the airplane overflew her residence in a steep left bank and its associated engine noise caused her windows to rattle. She stated that the airplane narrowly missed trees and utility lines along a roadway and that the airplane remained in the left bank as it descended and impacted the ground; a postimpact fire ensued.