What happened
The aircraft attempted to depart from a short grass strip measuring 2300 feet in length. Trees standing 75 feet high were located at the end of the runway. The departure was conducted in a downwind direction with a wind velocity of 9 knots. Under these specific conditions, the available takeoff distance was insufficient according to the aircraft performance charts. The certified flight instructor operating the controls utilized an improper airspeed for the lift-off phase.
The investigation
The examination focused on the takeoff performance data and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The strip length and obstacle clearance requirements were analyzed against the manufacturer's published performance specifications. The wind component and its effect on ground speed and climb gradient were evaluated. The flight instructor's control inputs during the critical rotation phase were reviewed to determine compliance with standard operating procedures.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the use of a runway that was too short for the prevailing conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain the correct airspeed. The downwind wind component further degraded the aircraft's ability to clear the tree line. The certified flight instructor did not adhere to the performance limitations outlined in the aircraft manual.
The aircraft collided with trees during takeoff. The pilot failed to account for the downwind wind component and improper airspeed. 3 fatal injuries were reported among those on board. fuel exhaustion was not a factor, but improper airspeed was cited as a key error.
Safety message
Pilots must strictly adhere to published performance charts when calculating takeoff distances. Environmental factors such as wind direction and speed significantly impact aircraft performance. Operators should ensure that the available runway length provides adequate safety margins for obstacle clearance, especially at unimproved airfields.