What happened
The stall warning horn activated during the climbout phase immediately following a touch-and-go landing. The pilot reported that rising terrain was located beyond the end of the runway, which prevented the continuation of the climb while maintaining a safe airspeed. Environmental conditions at the time included an ambient air temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a density altitude of approximately 4000 feet.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance capabilities relative to the environmental conditions and the topography of the airport environment. Analysis confirmed that the high density altitude significantly reduced engine power and aerodynamic efficiency, limiting the aircraft's ability to gain altitude over obstacles near the departure end of the runway.
Findings
Contributing factors included the high density altitude which degraded climb performance, and the presence of rising terrain immediately beyond the runway threshold. The pilot's decision to attempt a climbout in these conditions resulted in an inability to clear the obstacle with adequate safety margins.