What happened
During a training flight, the aircraft attempted takeoff on an 8,000-foot runway. The aircraft was approximately 48 pounds over its maximum gross weight, and the runway featured a slight upslope of about 1/2 degree.
Witnesses observed that the pilot attempted an initial rotation after approximately 800 feet of ground roll. During the takeoff roll, the nose of the aircraft rose off the runway and returned to the surface two or three times before the plane finally became airborne at the end of the runway.
As the aircraft left the runway, the terrain descended. The aircraft followed this downslope in ground effect, traveling approximately 390 feet before impacting trees at an altitude of 10 feet AGL. The aircraft came to rest and was consumed by fire 561 feet beyond the end of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation noted that while witnesses perceived that engine performance and acceleration were not optimal, no mechanical discrepancies were discovered in the engine or aircraft systems.
Regarding pilot experience, the pilot's background primarily consisted of high-performance USAF jets. Prior to the accident, the pilot had only one hour of dual instruction in this specific make and model, along with three known dual flights in other civilian aircraft.