DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT HEARD A BANGING NOISE ON THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. AT 100 FT A.G.L. HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO LAND. THE PILOT ADDED 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO THE 10 THAT HAD BEEN SET FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT. HE LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE WHEEL COLLIDED WITH A ROCK, BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS NOT IN PLACE AND WAS HANGING FROM THE WING BY ITS CONNECTION CHAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 7500 FEET.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..HIGH OBSTRUCTION(S)
FUEL SYSTEM,CAP..OPEN
DIVERTED ATTENTION..PILOT IN COMMAND
WEATHER CONDITION..HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE

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