Mar 9, 2025
Accident
Destroyed Lititz, PA
Injuries2 serious, 3 minor
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 091
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff due to his distraction by the opening of the cabin door, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/mush condition at too low of an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s overweight condition, which increased its stall speed and adversely affected its control characteristics.
NTSB ERA25LA137