Synopsis
During a high-temperature, humid day at a field elevation of 705 feet, the density altitude was reported as 2,700 feet. A light wind from the north prevailed, and the pilot chose to depart uphill toward the north on a grass runway. The runway had experienced heavy rain several days prior, although the weather had been clear for the days immediately preceding the event.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that after lifting off early, the aircraft exhibited mushy control response. In response, the pilot lowered the nose, resulting in the airplane touching back down on the runway. The pilot then kept the nose down to accelerate sufficiently to clear trees beyond the runway. At the last moment, the pilot lifted the airplane off, but the right wing struck a tree. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees to the right and enter the wooded area tail-first. The trees struck were located 200 feet beyond the end of the 2,000-foot runway.
Environmental Conditions
The day was characterized as hot and humid. The field elevation was 705 feet, and the density altitude was calculated at 2,700 feet. Wind was light from the north. The grass runway surface had received heavy rain days earlier, but the weather had been clear for the past several days prior to the event.
Damage
As a result of the wing striking a tree and subsequent impact with trees in the wooded area, the aircraft sustained damage. No further details regarding the extent of damage are specified in the source.