At about 1206 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an attempt to return to the departure airport. The captain, first officer and an observer received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the post-maintenance check flight; an IFR flight plan was filed. The accident flight was the first following a “C” check, which included flight-control cable rigging. About one minute after takeoff, the flight contacted ATC and stated it needed to return. About two minutes later, it impacted a cornfield about one mile from the runway. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved and sent to the NTSB for inspection.
