Stall during takeoff at unimproved field (N5425T)

What happened

The aircraft was attempting to depart from an unimproved field site. According to the pilot, the aircraft failed to accelerate and climb out as expected during the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled and impacted the brush along a creek bed. The pilot noted that previous departures from this specific location had been conducted with a minimum load consisting of the pilot only. On this occasion, the pilot elected to crash into the brush rather than attempt to clear a ridge located ahead in the flight path.

Findings

The primary factor contributing to the accident was the excessive weight of the aircraft for the takeoff conditions. The pilot's decision to carry more than the minimum load on this flight, combined with the short and unimproved nature of the runway, resulted in an inability to achieve sufficient airspeed. This led directly to the stall. The pilot's choice to crash into the brush was a deliberate action to avoid colliding with the ridge ahead.