What happened
The airplane was involved in an accident during the initial climb phase following takeoff from a private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that he initiated the takeoff roll and lifted off, intending to remain within ground effect to clear obstacles or gain altitude safely.
However, the aircraft failed to maintain sufficient airspeed. It stalled while still close to the ground and descended into an area of trees located at the departure end of the runway. The airstrip in question was relatively short, measuring only 1,500 feet in length, and featured an upslope in the takeoff direction which may have affected acceleration performance.
The investigation
Post-accident examination focused on the circumstances of the flight phase. The pilot's account indicated that the loss of control occurred while attempting to remain in ground effect. No mechanical failure was cited as a primary factor; rather, the stall occurred due to airspeed decay during the critical climb-out segment.
Findings
The accident resulted from the airplane stalling during the initial climb. Contributing factors included the short runway length and the upslope gradient, which may have challenged the pilot's ability to accelerate to a safe climb speed before becoming airborne.