Flight Details
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were conducting a training flight in an airplane. They landed at a private sod strip on runway 36. Following the landing, the CFI taxied the airplane to the north end of the runway.
Takeoff Attempt
The CFI then attempted to demonstrate a soft field takeoff to the student pilot on runway 18, which was a 2,150-foot-long sod runway. During the takeoff, the airplane rotated approximately 300 feet from the end of the runway. Shortly after rotation, the airplane struck trees at the south end of the runway. The trees were 60 feet high, and the airplane made contact about 10 feet from their tops.
Environmental Conditions
Reported surface winds at an airport located 7 miles east of the sod strip were from 340 degrees at 10 knots.
Performance Information
According to the pilot's operating handbook, with the flaps set to 10 degrees, the required takeoff roll distance was about 1,466 feet, and the distance required to clear a 50-foot obstacle was 2,497 feet.