Incident Description
During the preflight inspection of the aircraft, the pilot reported observing wind conditions at the airport as from the north at about 5 to 10 knots, which indicated a left crosswind. The airport is immediately surrounded by pine trees averaging about 60 feet in height.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that he was climbing at about 80 mph following a normal short-field takeoff when the aircraft encountered a 'violent down draft' at about 100 feet AGL. According to the pilot, the downdraft rolled the aircraft to a 90-degree left wing down attitude, and he could not regain control prior to contacting trees off the left side of the runway.
Weather Observations
Ground witnesses on the airport reported that the winds at the wings on the airport proper were 'almost calm.' However, at the tree top level, winds were from the left at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots.