Incident Overview
The airplane collided with trees and wires shortly after takeoff from runway 35, which is 4,100 feet long. The pilot had originally departed on runway 17 but returned due to an unlatched door. After landing on runway 35, the pilot stopped on the runway and relatched the door before continuing the takeoff from that point.
Takeoff Details
The takeoff was made to the north with approximately 3,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne with about 1,000 feet of runway remaining. Immediately after takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear and remained in ground effect while attempting to gain airspeed.
Obstacle Strike
The airplane contacted trees and wires located about 250 yards off the departure end of the runway. The wires that were contacted were approximately 14 feet above the ground. Another set of wires above those, at a height of about 20 feet, were not damaged. The pilot reported being aware of the wires.
Witness and Weather Information
One witness reported that the airplane became airborne approximately 30 feet before the end of the runway. The closest weather reporting station, located 21 miles west of the accident site, recorded wind from 220 degrees at 10 knots. This observation was taken 23 minutes after the accident.