Accident Details
A pilot with three passengers aboard attempted a takeoff from Runway 13 at the Condon, Montana, USFS airstrip. The runway measures 3,035 feet by 200 feet and is turf. The wind was approximately 1 to 5 mph. The pilot selected 20 degrees of flaps and used a short/soft field takeoff procedure. The aircraft lifted off briefly but then settled back to the ground. The pilot did not abort the takeoff because trucks, trailers, mules, and people were present at the end of the runway. The pilot believed he encountered a sudden downdraft. The aircraft yawed to the left and cleared the parked vehicles but was unable to clear nearby trees. The pilot cut power and attempted to slow the aircraft before impact.
Performance Calculations
Performance calculations indicated the aircraft required 1,240 feet of runway for its ground run and 2,084 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle.
Pilot Comments
The pilot reported that the airstrip is known for wind shear above the tree line.