Incident Overview
A takeoff accident occurred at an airport with an elevation of 7,160 feet MSL. Prior to departure, the mixture was leaned to compensate for the high density altitude. The aircraft rolled the full 5,075-foot length of the runway and may have become airborne only shortly before striking fences at the runway's end.
Student Pilot Account
The dual student reported that his certified flight instructor (CFI) told him to retract the landing gear at the moment the aircraft was approaching the end of the runway. Additionally, the student indicated that the parking brake remained engaged during the takeoff roll.
Aircraft and Conditions
The aircraft was operating at a high-elevation airport, which contributed to reduced engine performance due to density altitude. The exact aircraft type and registration are not specified in the available information. The runway length was 5,075 feet, and the airport elevation was 7,160 feet MSL.
Sequence of Events
After leaning the mixture for takeoff, the aircraft began its takeoff roll. It traversed the entire runway length and became airborne, if at all, just before colliding with fences located beyond the departure end. The instructor's directive to raise the gear came at this critical moment, and the parking brake was reportedly still applied during the roll.
Investigation Findings
No probable cause has been stated in the source material. The investigation will likely examine the effects of the parking brake being on, the timing of the gear retraction instruction, and the high-density-altitude conditions on the takeoff performance.