Accident Details
The private pilot, who had accumulated 289 total flight hours, elected to take off from runway 35 at a grass airstrip measuring 2,450 feet long and 55 feet wide, with a downhill slope. The pilot was aware of a 15-knot tailwind. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1, he had previously departed from the same airport a few times under similar weather conditions.
Flight and Maneuvering
The pilot, who reported 200 hours in the same make and model aircraft, configured the airplane for takeoff with 20 degrees of flaps due to the rough grass surface. The takeoff and initial climb were described as normal until the aircraft reached treetop level. At that point, the airspeed dropped to approximately 40 miles per hour, and the aircraft ceased climbing. The pilot realized he would not clear the trees and attempted to maneuver the airplane into the wind. He stated, "we got boxed into a corner and wound up hitting some trees on the northwest side of the field." A large tree trunk impaled the windshield, and the airplane came to rest in a nose-down, inverted position. There was no post-crash fire.
Injuries and Egress
The pilot received serious injuries, and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Both occupants were able to exit the single-engine airplane through the broken windscreen without assistance.
Weather and Conditions
The nearest weather reporting station, located 15 nautical miles south of the accident site, reported wind from 160 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots, with clear skies and a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. The Investigator-in-Charge calculated the density altitude at 2,928 feet.
Pilot Comments
The pilot reported that he had been taught that on runways with a very steep hill (slope), the pilot should always land uphill and take off downhill, regardless of wind direction.