What happened
The accident occurred while the pilot was conducting touch-and-go landing operations on a relatively short, unpaved airstrip. The runway surface consisted of gravel and measured only 1,100 feet in length, a constraint that required precise energy management during every phase of the maneuver.
During one specific sequence, the pilot touched down significantly beyond the optimal point for a touch-and-go operation. Because the landing occurred so far down the available pavement, the aircraft was unable to accelerate and rotate at a safe distance from the end of the runway. The pilot delayed lifting off until the aircraft was very close to the departure threshold.
Once airborne, the pilot attempted to pitch the nose up aggressively to gain altitude quickly enough to clear a fence located just beyond the end of the airstrip. However, the aircraft's performance was severely degraded by environmental conditions. The density altitude at the time of the accident was recorded at 7,800 feet, indicating that the air was significantly less dense than standard sea-level conditions. This high density altitude reduced engine power output and aerodynamic lift, preventing the aircraft from achieving the necessary climb gradient to clear the obstacle.
The investigation
Examination of the flight data and physical evidence confirmed that the primary issue was insufficient climb performance relative to the available runway length. The short gravel surface offered no margin for error in landing placement. The high density altitude was a critical factor, as it directly impacted the aircraft's ability to accelerate and climb after liftoff.
Findings
The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to land long on a critically short airstrip while operating under high density altitude conditions. The combination of limited runway length and reduced aircraft performance due to atmospheric pressure and temperature resulted in an inability to clear the fence at the end of the runway.