Accident Details
A pilot rented a fully fueled aircraft from a fixed-base operator (FBO) at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), which has two hard-surfaced runways of 4,600 and 6,000 feet. He flew to an airport at an elevation of 130 feet mean sea level (MSL) featuring a 2,430-foot grass runway, where he picked up his wife for a cross-country flight. The first flight of about 10 minutes was uneventful, with the aircraft performing normally.
Flight History
On departure, the pilot reported calm winds and attempted a takeoff from runway 36. About two-thirds of the way down the runway at 65 knots, he rotated and the engine quit. Believing he could not stop the aircraft on the wet grass, and noting a ditch at the end of the runway, he avoided the ditch by reapplying throttle and pulling the aircraft off the surface as he approached the ditch. The aircraft rotated then stalled. The left wing struck a stump and was sheared off.
Engine Examination
After the accident, the engine was test-run and no abnormalities were observed.
Weather Conditions
The surface wind at Orlando Executive Airport was recorded at 140 degrees at 12 knots. The outside air temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the density altitude was calculated to be 1,800 feet above mean sea level.