What happened
During an attempted takeoff from Runway 13 at the Condon, MT, USFS airstrip, an aircraft carrying the pilot and 3 passengers encountered difficulties. The runway is a turf surface measuring 3,035 feet by 200 feet, situated at an elevation of 3,686 feet MSL. Winds at the time were approximately 1-5 mph.
The pilot utilized a short/soft field takeoff procedure with 20 degrees of flaps selected. While the aircraft briefly lifted off, it subsequently settled back onto the ground. The pilot reported that aborting the takeoff was not a viable option due to the presence of people, mules, trailers, and trucks at the end of the runway.
The pilot believed the aircraft encountered a sudden downdraft. This caused the aircraft to yaw to the left; while it successfully cleared the parked vehicles, it was unable to clear the trees. Before impact, the pilot reduced power in an attempt to slow the aircraft.
Findings
Performance calculations for the takeoff indicated that the aircraft required 1,240 feet of runway for its ground run and 2,084 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The pilot noted that the airstrip is known for experiencing wind shear above the tree line.