Incident Overview
During a takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the engine indications were normal but the airplane was slow to accelerate down the runway. Despite the sluggish performance, the pilot did not consider aborting the takeoff. Passengers on board concurred with the pilot's account, stating that the airplane was airborne for only a very short time before it collided with terrain.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident investigation revealed that both main landing gear tires had been exposed to extensive thermal damage and that the brake pads were glazed. The pilot believed that he had released the parking brake after completing the engine runup. However, no problems were found with the airplane's brake system.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the engine indications were normal, but did not elaborate on why the acceleration was slow. The decision to continue the takeoff despite the observed slowness was not explained beyond the pilot's statement that aborting was not considered.