Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane failed to accelerate properly. Approximately halfway down the 1,700-foot runway, the pilot closed the throttle and applied brakes in an attempt to abort the takeoff. Realizing that he could not stop the airplane before the end of the runway, he applied full throttle and released the brakes in an effort to become airborne.
Sequence of Events
The airplane became airborne in ground effect but subsequently settled back to the ground and struck a fence post. The pilot and a passenger had just landed at the airport to pick up two additional passengers for the flight. The runway surface was described as soft due to recent rainfall, which likely affected the airplane's acceleration and braking performance.
Contributing Conditions
The soft runway condition, caused by recent rainfall, was noted as a factor in the airplane's inability to accelerate properly during the takeoff roll and the subsequent difficulty in stopping after the abort decision.