What happened
During the first takeoff of the day at dawn, an aircraft departed from a 2,200-foot airstrip under calm wind conditions and a temperature of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The aircraft was operating at a gross weight of 3,510 pounds, which was below its maximum allowable gross weight of 4,400 pounds.
After the aircraft broke ground, it climbed to an altitude of approximately 12 feet AGL before it began settling. The pilot reported that the airplane entered dead air and sank into ground effect. During this phase, the main wheels made contact with corn plants located at the departure end of the runway. This contact caused a sudden deceleration and a subsequent descent to the ground. Following the impact with the corn field, the aircraft traveled approximately 20 feet.
The investigation
The pilot reported that the engine was performing normally throughout the event and noted that there were no issues regarding flight controls.