What happened
The pilot departed from a 1,650-foot long, 50-foot wide grass runway, identified as runway 27. At the time of departure, the windsock at the airport indicated winds from the west at 5 to 10 knots, while an airport approximately 15 miles away reported calm conditions.
During the initial climb, the aircraft encountered light turbulence after passing the tree line. The pilot noted that the airplane did not perform a climb as it normally would have. In an attempt to avoid a hangar located at the end of the runway, the pilot executed a shallow left turn. While this maneuver successfully avoided the first hangar, the aircraft struck a second hangar.
The second hangar was approximately 12 feet high and 50 feet wide with a flat roof, positioned about 75 to 100 feet left of the runway centerline and set back from the first structure. Upon impact, the airplane came to rest on the roof at a heading of approximately 180 degrees and a 30-degree nose-down angle. The engine and the cockpit area forward of the wings protruded through the hangar roof. The underside of the fuselage was buckled, though no structural damage was apparent on the wings. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
The investigation included an examination of the aircraft's condition and the airfield. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed that the aircraft was within weight and balance limitations during takeoff. Additionally, the inspector noted that runway 27 was maintained and the grass had been recently mowed.