Background
The pilot reported that the turf on the field was soft, requiring more power for taxi. He lined up for departure on runway 18, noting tall trees on either side of the departure end.
Takeoff and Initial Climb
At the start of the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full throttle. The airplane initially accelerated slowly but then gained speed. When the airspeed reached 56 to 57 knots, the pilot rotated the aircraft. After rotation, the aircraft climbed to an altitude just above the treetops.
Encounter with Trees
The pilot felt a gust of wind, which caused the airplane to drift to the left. The left drift resulted in the aircraft striking a tree branch. Following the impact, the airplane cartwheeled to the left and descended through pine trees. During the descent, the pilot noticed that the windscreen was completely gone.
Final Position and Egress
The aircraft became wedged in the pine trees, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude with the propeller buried approximately one foot into the turf. The pilot released his seat belt and shoulder harness and slid out over the engine cowling.
Mechanical Examination
Neither the pilot nor an examination of the aircraft revealed any indication of mechanical malfunction.