Accident Details
A takeoff was attempted on Runway 06, a grass surface measuring 1,640 feet in length. During the takeoff roll, the airplane settled back to the runway after initial rotation and bounced several times. A rated passenger stated that they encouraged the pilot to lift the nosewheel clear of the ground, but the nosewheel dropped back immediately. The pilot then applied back pressure, causing the aircraft to bounce again. The stall warning horn began blaring as the airplane climbed in a nose-high attitude, at which point the left wing dropped, indicating a stall. The left wing subsequently made contact with the top of shrubs.
Pilot and FAA Statements
An FAA inspector reported that the pilot stated the aircraft failed to reach flying speed and that he tried to pull the aircraft off the ground prior to reaching the end of the runway. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.
Analysis
The sequence described indicates that the aircraft did not achieve sufficient speed for a normal liftoff, and the pilot's attempt to rotate early led to a stall. The contact with shrubs occurred after the wing dropped.