What happened
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet above ground level when a downdraft was encountered. At this moment, the right main landing gear, which was in the transient position during retraction, struck the runway surface. Despite the impact, the pilot managed to keep the aircraft airborne, although the rate of climb was significantly reduced.
Assessing the situation, the pilot determined that the trees located south of the airport could not be cleared with the current performance. Consequently, the pilot slowed the aircraft and executed a forced landing into the tree tops.
The investigation
An examination of the incident revealed that the pilot had activated the gear override system prior to initiating takeoff. This action was part of short-field procedures designed to expedite gear retraction. However, the process began immediately upon rotation, leading to premature contact between the propeller and the ground as the gear was still moving.