Departure and Environment
The pilot was taking off from a short, uphill runway that faced rising terrain. At the end of the departure runway, tall brush was present.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that the airplane achieved liftoff about three-quarters of the way down the runway. After becoming airborne, the airplane encountered downdrafts and was unable to climb. The pilot further reported that the stall warning horn activated, the airplane shuddered, and then it descended into the tall brush.
Post-Accident Inspection
An aviation mechanic who visited the scene observed that the airplane first contacted the brush approximately 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The mechanic also noted that the main landing gear left tracks in the dirt of the airstrip, extending until approximately 150 feet from that initial impact point. This distance equates to roughly 100 feet from the departure end of the runway.