Event Overview
During a training flight, the flight instructor and private pilot were cleared to taxi and accepted an intersection departure. The private pilot was at the flight controls during the initial takeoff.
Takeoff and Initial Climb
According to the flight instructor, the private pilot rotated at "70 knots" and the airplane "jumped off the runway and drifted left and then made a slight hop on the main gear." The flight instructor stated that he then took control of the airplane and held it "level in ground effect for several seconds to get it to accelerate." He reported that the stall horn was audible during this phase. Subsequently, he initiated a slight turn to the right towards lower terrain.
Witness Observations
Several witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be having difficulty climbing.
Collision
The airplane struck a telephone pole, nosed down, and impacted the roof of a two-story house. The impact caused substantial damage to the house and destroyed the airplane.
Aircraft and Performance Information
An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. The flight instructor stated that the airplane was 300 pounds under gross weight. The control tower reported 4,700 feet of runway available from the land and hold short line at intersection Delta to the end of runway 21. According to the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), the airplane should have had a climb rate of 650 feet per minute. The distance required for takeoff varied from approximately 2,000 feet (zero degrees flaps and no 50-foot obstacle) to 3,250 feet (zero degrees flaps with a 50-foot obstacle).