NTSB Factual Report

On August 6, 2005, approximately 1705, Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 120 single-engine airplane, N627DM, was destroyed after impacting terrain following a loss of control during takeoff-initial climb at the Chiloquin State Airport, Chiloquin, Oregon. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and its destination was not determined.

A local law enforcement agency supplied the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) with a written report, which stated that witnesses observed the airplane departing to the south. One witness reported seeing the airplane about 20 feet above the ground when it pulled up steeply, banked hard to the left, and then continued to turn and went straight into the ground. Other witnesses said that just after the airplane took off and was approximately 200 to 300 feet above the ground, it nosed down and impacted terrain. There was no post-crash fire.

The Continental C-85-12-F, 85 horsepower engine, powered the single-engine two-place airplane. Airplane logbooks were not recovered for examination.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. According to the information provided on his most recent airman's medical application, the pilot's total flight time was approximately 810 hours. The pilot held a third class medical certificate, dated March 1, 2005. The pilot's logbook was not located during the investigation.

At 1653, the weather reporting facility at the Klamath Falls Airport, Klamath Falls, Oregon, located 30 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported wind 280 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,000 feet, temperature 32 degrees C, dew point 8 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of Mercury.

The airplane wreckage was located approximately 2,250 feet from the center of Runway 17/35, and about 500 feet southwest of the departure end of Runway 17, at 42 degrees 34.432 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 52.856 minutes west longitude. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position in an open field of knee-high sagebrush oriented on a westerly heading. The engine was observed pushed rearward into the firewall, with the cabin/cockpit area destroyed. Both wing's leading edges were crushed aft and wrinkled on both the top and bottom surfaces, with both wingtips bent and mangled. The aft fuselage and empennage were not damaged. The aircraft was removed to a secured storage facility in Redmond, Oregon, for further examination by the NTSB.

On August 9, 2005, an autopsy was performed on the pilot at the facilities of the Oregon State Police Morgue, Oregon State Police Headquarters, Central Point, Oregon. The autopsy attributed the cause of death to multiple blunt injuries.

Toxicological testing was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aeromedical Institute of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were negative for all tests.

On October 20, 2005, under the supervision of the IIC, an examination of the airframe and engine was performed by representatives from Cessna Aircraft Company and Teledyne Continental Motors. The examination revealed no anomalies which would have prevented normal operations.

The airplane wreckage was released to the owner's representative on October 20, 2005.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and a loss of control during a pull-up maneuver. A factor contributing to the accident was the inadvertent stall/spin, which resulted in the subsequent collision with terrain.