Accident Details
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft lifted off but failed to climb normally. The pilot reported that after lift-off, the pointer on the airspeed indicator was near the bottom of the green arc. Although the engine was running smoothly and the throttle was at the full power position, the aircraft did not accelerate or climb as expected.
As the aircraft departed the runway environment, it struck the tops of trees near the departure end. The pilot stated that after clipping the treetops, he realized the aircraft was going to impact the ground. He then pulled the yoke back to slow the aircraft as much as possible.
Cockpit Indications
The pilot noted that the stall warning light had illuminated during the sequence of events. However, he did not take corrective action because the aircraft did not feel like it was stalling. Despite the indication, the pilot continued with the flight controls and power settings, maintaining the yoke back and throttle forward.
Aircraft Condition
The aircraft remained under power, with the engine running smoothly throughout the takeoff and subsequent tree strike. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the engine or flight controls prior to the accident.
Pilot Actions
In response to the deteriorating climb performance, the pilot's primary action was to pull the yoke full aft in an attempt to reduce the aircraft's speed, believing that a slower speed might mitigate the severity of the impending impact. The pilot did not advance the throttle further, as it was already at the full power position, nor did he lower the nose to increase airspeed.
The tree strike occurred shortly after lift-off, with the airspeed still low and the aircraft unable to climb above the obstacles at the end of the runway.