N7066T

On May 30, 2005, about 0830 eastern daylight time, a Watson Slip Stream experimental amateur-built airplane, N7066T, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, crashed shortly after takeoff from Freeflight International Airport, a private strip, near Wildwood, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport pilot received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The airplane owner/builder who witnessed the takeoff, stated that he had hired the accident pilot to relocate the airplane from the private airstrip to an airport in Eustis, Florida. He further stated that he observed the takeoff, and during the initial climb, as the pilot initiated the turn from upwind to crosswind, the nose pitched up to a very high attitude. The airplane stalled, rolled to the left, and descended, impacting the ground.

A visual examination of the airplane was made by an FAA air safety inspector, and commenced on May 30. Accompanying the inspector during the examination were the airplane's owner, and a representative of the engine manufacturer. Major portions of the airplane were consumed by a postcrash fire, and control continuity could not be established. According to the engine manufacturer's representative, there was evidence consistent with the engine running at high RPM during impact.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board dated July 9, the owner/builder reported that the pilot became airborne in the first 100 feet of the takeoff roll, climbed to about 500 feet agl, leveled off and flew the length of the runway, plus about 1,500 additional feet, before initiating a crosswind turn. He wrote that during the turn the nose of the airplane pitched up to a high attitude, and the airplane appeared to stall and spin to the left, descend and impact the ground. He said the airplane was engulfed in flames when he reached the site.