THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN A HURRY TO TAKEOFF BEFORE IT GOT DARK. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF WITH THE FLAPS RETRACTED BECAUSE HE DID NOT USE THE PLANE'S TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. HE RECOGNIZED HIS ERROR ABOUT THREE-FOURTHS INTO THE TAKEOFF RUN. HE REASONED THAT IT WAS SAFER TO ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE FLAPS AND CONTINUE WITH THE TAKEOFF RATHER THAN ABORT. THE PLANE OVERRAN THE SHORELINE AND COLLIDED WITH TREES A SHORT DISTANCE BEYOND. THE PLANE'S CHECKLIST WAS LOCATED ON THE FLIGHT CONTROL YOKE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PILOT.