According to a preliminary NTSB report, the airplane took off over dark water with no discernable horizon, then began a shallow climb and a right turn. “It seems possible that this is a classic spatial disorientation accident due to somatogravic illusion, triggered by accelerating in situations without good visual references,” AOPA officials said.
NTSB
Attempt to takeoff from corn field proves fatal
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s capability and his decision to attempt to takeoff from a field, which resulted in collision with a power pole and terrain.
Young Eagles flight goes awry
The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff and his high pitch attitude after takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Fuel exhaustion leads to crash
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper planning, which led to fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.
Flight into icing conditions fatal for four
The pilot’s improper decision to continue flight in an area of moderate-to-heavy icing conditions, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s anti-icing system capabilities, a degradation of aircraft performance, and subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Flight into IMC proves fatal for non-instrument-rated pilot
The noninstrument-rated pilot’s intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control.
Student pilot raises landing gear instead of flaps
The student pilot’s unintentional selection of raising the landing gear instead of the flaps during a touch-and-go landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the landing gear retracting during the landing roll.
Water contamination results in total loss of engine power
Water contamination of the airplane’s fuel supply which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Improperly installed throttle cable leads to forced landing
Inadequate maintenance at the time the carburetor was replaced, which resulted in the improperly installed throttle cable and a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate annual inspection that failed to detect the improper throttle cable installation.