Accident Overview
A private pilot, after discussing local adverse wind conditions near the departure end of the runway with airport operations personnel, elected to proceed with the flight. During the takeoff climb, the pilot unexpectedly encountered a very strong downdraft. In an attempt to maintain altitude, the aircraft stalled and subsequently collided with the ground.
Pilot Actions and Aircraft Configuration
The pilot stated before the flight that he should attempt to climb over the adverse winds rather than maintain additional airspeed, despite warnings from aircraft personnel. The airplane was operating very near its maximum gross weight. The pilot configured the aircraft with 20 degrees of flaps, instead of the recommended 10 degrees for takeoff.
Environmental Conditions
The pilot was aware of a booklet at the airport that warned of hazardous wind conditions, especially when winds were southerly and in excess of 10 mph. The density altitude at the time was 10,760 feet.