Accident
The airplane collided with a pole, trees, and terrain after departing from a grass runway. The impact sequence involved the right wing striking a phone pole, followed by passage through trees and over a road before coming to rest in a plowed field.
Pilot Statement
The pilot provided a written account of the event. He stated that he began the takeoff from the extreme end of Runway 25, noting a slight downhill start. During the takeoff roll, he did not perceive the turbocharger engaging, which he attributed to the bumpy grass surface. Acceleration felt sluggish, but he again ascribed this to the grass field and the airplane being near maximum gross weight. The pilot noted that although he normally operated from Detroit City Airport, this was his fourth departure from Arnold Field and his first from Runway 25. Approximately two-thirds down the runway, he recognized a serious performance problem. He rotated at a little over 60 knots, and the wheels cleared the grass. He expected the airplane to perform better without the drag of the grass. However, upon looking up, he saw power lines above and realized he would not clear them. The airplane continued to underperform. When he pulled back on the yoke, the stall warning activated. He lowered the nose and sought a path under the power lines and over the trees but concluded it was not possible. He then aimed for a thin spot in the tree line. The right wing clipped a phone pole, and the airplane crashed through trees, over a road, and came to rest in a freshly plowed field.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The engine was test run on the airframe, operating from idle to a power setting of 34 inches of manifold pressure. Power was not increased beyond 34 inches due to safety concerns during the test. During the engine run, the magnetos were checked and the propeller was cycled; no anomalies were noted.
The report also referenced an FAA publication, "The Safe Pilot's 12 Golden Rules" (FAA-P-8740-7), which includes guidance on takeoff and landing limits, such as aborting takeoff if not airborne in the first half of the runway.