What happened
The pilot initiated takeoff operations on a soft, rough turf airstrip. The aircraft lifted off near the midpoint of the runway while maintaining a slow airspeed and a steep nose-up attitude. After climbing to an altitude of 50 to 60 feet above ground level, the aircraft leveled off briefly before rotating into another steep nose-up configuration near the end of the strip. Subsequently, the aircraft descended into trees located at the end of the airstrip while maintaining a wings-level, nose-up attitude.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the takeoff performance and flight path relative to the airstrip conditions. Examination of the site revealed that the aircraft impacted the tree line immediately following the departure phase. No mechanical anomalies were reported that would have prevented normal operation, pointing instead to the interaction between the aircraft's performance capabilities and the challenging runway surface.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident included the decision to utilize a soft, rough turf airstrip for takeoff. The aircraft's slow airspeed and steep nose-up attitude during the initial climb phase limited its ability to clear obstacles at the end of the available runway. The terrain at the end of the strip presented a fixed obstacle that the aircraft could not surmount given its flight path and altitude.