Incident Summary
A pilot and three passengers were beginning a cross-country flight. The pilot reported making a 'quick outside check' of the airplane before departure that did not include a fuel sump drain. The aircraft taxied onto Runway 1, which sloped upward to the north. Winds were estimated to be calm. The pilot started the takeoff run 300 feet down the runway and performed a 'running' magneto check but did not make a carburetor heat check.
During the climb, the airplane reached only about 30 feet above ground level. The pilot noticed the aircraft was not climbing as fast as the terrain rose and decided to land in a field to avoid power lines in the flight path. Subsequently, the left wing hit the ground and the landing gear was torn off. The door jammed, but a passerby helped the occupants exit the cabin.
Investigation Findings
An investigation failed to reveal any pre-accident part failure or malfunction. The density altitude was about 8,700 feet. About 37 miles west, the wind was reported from 200 degrees at 5 knots.
Aircraft Performance Considerations
The pilot reported calm winds at the airport. The runway sloped upward, and the density altitude was approximately 8,700 feet, which can affect aircraft performance. However, the investigation did not determine a specific cause for the reduced climb performance.