What happened
The pilot, who held 1,696 hours of flight time, initiated takeoff on a 2,575-foot grass runway. During the ground roll, the aircraft failed to attain the proper airspeed required for departure. As a result, it struck the edge of a road located approximately eight feet from the departure end of the runway. Following this impact, the airplane bounced and continued forward, penetrating the middle of a metal barn before coming to rest in an upright position roughly 100 feet beyond the structure.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the takeoff roll. Examination revealed that the plane sustained significant damage from impacting the road edge and the subsequent collision with the barn. No specific mechanical failure was identified as the primary cause of the airspeed deficiency during the initial phase.
Findings
Contributing factors included the short runway length relative to the takeoff requirements and the pilot's inability to achieve necessary lift before reaching the runway end. The sequence of events led directly to the collision with the road and the barn. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.