Incident Overview
The airplane was departing from runway 6, a 3,001-foot asphalt runway. During the rotation phase, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. In response, the pilot retarded the throttle and mixture control, and the airplane returned to the runway.
Runway Excursion
After touching down, the pilot applied heavy braking and elevator back pressure. Despite these efforts, the airplane continued past the departure end of the runway and subsequently entered a ditch.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination of the airplane, which included an engine run-up, did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The winds at the airport were reported from 300 degrees at 4 knots.