What happened
During takeoff from a 2,200-foot grass runway on a heading of 150 degrees, the airplane began its takeoff roll and reached approximately 800 feet before becoming airborne at an altitude of about 8 feet. During this phase, the aircraft's nose and left wing dipped toward the runway, causing the left propeller to strike the grass surface. Witnesses noted that during a pre-takeoff engine run-up, the engine appeared to sputter.
Following the initial propeller strike, the aircraft climbed to approximately 50 feet above the ground before turning left. The aircraft then struck trees, impacted the ground, and caught fire. Witnesses reported observing a fireball upon impact with a pine tree. At the time of the accident, winds were described as gusty with a direct crosswind from the right side of the runway and occasional shifts from the northwest. Winds recorded approximately 40 miles west of the site were from 220 degrees at 14 knots.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway and identified 20 propeller slash marks on the left side of the runway, aligned with a heading of 150 degrees. These marks spanned a total distance of 453 feet, 3 inches. The interval between the first and second slash marks was 2 feet, while the distance between the final two marks was 61 feet. Based on these measurements, the ground speed of the aircraft between the first and second slash marks was determined to be 101.9 miles per hour. Additionally, both engines were partially disassembled for inspection, and no mechanical discrepancies were found.