Flight Sequence
During the takeoff roll, witnesses heard the engine power decrease at midfield. The pilot then applied full power, and the airplane climbed to approximately 6 feet above the runway. After settling back onto the runway, it climbed again to 6 feet, settled once more, and continued the takeoff roll using most of the 5,850-foot runway until reaching the airport perimeter fence. The airplane then climbed to about 20 feet above ground level before settling into a house. The density altitude at the time was 7,800 feet.
Engine Examination
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed multiple discrepancies. The magneto-to-engine timing was off, and internal magneto timing was incorrect on both sets of points. Additionally, both point gaps were out of specification. Five of the 12 spark plugs had worn electrodes, and one spark plug was not approved for the engine model.
Maintenance History
A 100-hour inspection had been completed on February 2, 1993, approximately 17 flight hours before the accident. No further maintenance issues were noted in the source.