FTW83FA176

Factual narrative

THE NON-RATED PLT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR & KNEW WHERE THE KEYS OF THE ACFT HAD BEEN KEPT. HE HAD NO KNOWN FLIGHT TRAINING, BUT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN A PASSENGER IN THE ACFT ON AT LEAST ONE OCASION. HE TOOK THE ACFT WITHOUT PERMISSION, PRESUMABLY TO TAKE TWO FRIENDS ON A JOY RIDE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL & INITIAL CLIMB, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ACFT THEN WENT INTO A STEEP, SLOW SPEED TURN, ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL, SPINNING DIVE, CRASHED INTO A LARGE METAL BUILDING & BURNED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE NORTH AT 10 GUSTING 25 KTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12