What happened
Following an intersection departure, the pilot of the aircraft reported that the airplane ceased climbing at approximately 50 feet above the runway. Although the engine appeared to be producing full power, the aircraft failed to maintain its climb.
As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the pilot closed the throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff and land on the remaining runway surface. During this maneuver, the left main landing gear collapsed upon striking the runway. The aircraft's left wing subsequently struck the ground, causing the plane to veer off the left side of the runway into snow-covered terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An FAA aviation safety inspector examined the aircraft and found no mechanical anomalies in the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Although the propeller assembly had been removed before the inspector's arrival, the NTSB investigated the component by disassembling and inspecting it. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were identified during the examination of the propeller assembly.