Incident Details
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he accelerated to 68 miles per hour. At that point, he realized that he would be unable to clear the trees ahead. He then closed the throttle and mixture, aiming the aircraft toward an opening in the trees while maintaining a level attitude until impact. The aircraft struck the trees approximately 18 feet above ground level.
Runway Conditions
The landing strip was about 1,700 feet long and sloped uphill at an angle of roughly 3 degrees up to about midfield. Approximately half of the strip appeared to have been freshly plowed and dragged with a bar to smooth out high spots; that portion remained soft. The trees at the end of the strip were about 50 feet tall.
Performance Considerations
Performance chart data for this aircraft indicated that approximately 1,700 feet of runway would be required for takeoff, without accounting for the uphill slope and the soft surface. The combination of the strip's length, slope, and surface condition may have affected the aircraft's performance, though the pilot's decision to abort was based on his assessment of the situation.