Departure and Initial Climb
During the takeoff roll, the airplane initially became airborne upon reaching an airspeed of 65 knots. It climbed between 2 and 4 feet above the dirt runway's surface before settling back onto the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff roll, and after accelerating to 70 knots, the airplane again became airborne.
Collision with Obstacles
As the airplane flew past the departure end of the runway, the landing gear collided with the perimeter boundary fence. Subsequently, the airplane collided with gradually rising terrain.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that at the time of the mishap there was no wind or turbulence, and the temperature was 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot also indicated that the airplane's normally aspirated engine did not produce adequate power to climb over terrain located adjacent to the airstrip.
Density Altitude Considerations
Based on the reported temperature and field elevation, the safety board calculated that the density altitude was approximately 7,900 feet. Aircraft performance charts noted that under the altitude and temperature conditions, the distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle is off the chart; however, interpolation yields a minimum distance of 4,800 feet. The predicted rate of climb is 150 feet per minute.
Conclusion
The accident investigation did not state a probable cause or contributing factors. The sequence of events is documented as described by the pilot and supported by performance calculations.