What happened
The pilot was attempting a takeoff from a short, uphill runway that led toward rising terrain. The departure runway was bordered by tall brush at its end. According to the pilot, the aircraft became airborne approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft encountered downdrafts that prevented it from gaining altitude.
The pilot reported that the stall warning horn activated and the airplane experienced a shudder before descending into the tall brush. An aviation mechanic who inspected the scene noted that the initial impact with the vegetation occurred approximately 50 feet beyond the end of the departure runway. The main landing gear continued to make tracks in the dirt of the airstrip for approximately 150 feet from the point of the first impact, which placed the final position roughly 100 feet from the end of the runway.