MIA84FA005

Factual narrative

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT RADIOED ON UNICOM THAT HIS COWLING WAS COMING OPEN & THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE FIELD. OTHER PLTS WAITING FOR TAKEOFF REPORTED SEEING THAT ACFT ENTER A LEFT TURN BETWEEN 200-300 FT AGL & BECOME VERY SLOW. ONE OF THE PLTS CALLED ON THE RADIO FOR THE PLT TO ADD ENG POWER. THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT SPIRALING TURN & CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT FRONT LATCHING HANDLE OF THE ENG COWLING SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING UNLATCHED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12