Incident Overview
A takeoff attempt on Runway 3 ended prematurely after the airplane encountered gusty winds and failed to climb. The pilot had selected 25 degrees of flaps (second notch) rather than the recommended 10 degrees (first notch). Local winds were reported from the east at 25 knots, gusting to 50 knots. The airport elevation was 5,280 feet, and the air temperature was approximately 52 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne earlier than expected. Witnesses observed that it lifted off well before reaching normal rotation speed. After becoming airborne, the airplane encountered turbulence and gusty winds, preventing it from climbing. The landing gear subsequently contacted brush and grass on the upwind side of the runway, prompting the pilot to abort the takeoff. The airplane settled onto soft terrain and came to rest several hundred feet from the side of the runway, with the landing gear collapsed.
Contributing Conditions
The decision to use a higher flap setting than typical, combined with strong, gusty crosswinds, affected the airplane's performance during the takeoff. The early lift-off and subsequent inability to climb led to the aircraft drifting toward the upwind side of the runway, where ground contact occurred.