Forced Landing After Takeoff in Hot and Humid Conditions (N2731P)

Incident Overview and Pilot Report During the initial takeoff climb, the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. He later told State Police that he was concerned about the aircraft's weight and its possible performance in the hot weather. The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated slowly on takeoff, which he attributed to hot and humid conditions. The aircraft used about 3,000 feet of runway before becoming airborne at 80 mph, with an initial climb rate of about 50 feet per minute, which he described as well below normal. As the airplane approached a tree line about 1,500 feet from the end of the runway, it could no longer climb and began descending. The pilot stated that the engine was at full power. Just before reaching the tree line, he lowered the flaps one notch and then to the full-down position. The airplane skimmed the tops of the trees, struck the ground in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude, and caught fire, destroying the aircraft.