The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed during takeoff at about 1905 Eastern time. The private pilot received minor injuries; the flight instructor was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to witnesses, the pilot applied full power for takeoff. One witness stated it seemed the airplane was “having difficulty climbing out of ground effect.” The airplane climbed to about 150 to 200 feet agl, banked right, stalled and entered a spin before impacting the ground. One witness noted that the engine “backfired” and that he heard it lose power prior to impacting the ground.
