Incident Overview
During an attempted departure from a private airstrip, the airplane descended into a river after becoming airborne. The airstrip consisted of soft, uneven dirt terrain. The landing gear followed the contours of the ground during the takeoff roll, and the airplane accelerated slowly. The pilot determined that aborting the takeoff was not possible due to brush and low trees adjacent to the end of the runway.
Departure and Climb
After becoming airborne, the airplane remained in ground effect. The pilot initiated a right turn to avoid the brush and direct the airplane toward lower terrain near the river. The pilot then detected a stall buffet and lowered the nose in an effort to prevent the stall.
Stall and Descent
Despite the pilot's corrective action, the airplane descended into the river, coming to rest in shallow water adjacent to a sand bar.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. He estimated the density altitude was at least 7,000 feet.