Pilot Report
According to the pilot, both he and the passenger walked the runway and removed debris, including sticks and rocks, prior to takeoff. The runway had softened due to snow and water runoff. The pilot stated that he experienced slight sinking conditions, but the surface was not muddy or sloppy.
Runway Conditions
The pilot elected to depart to the south in order to take off on a downhill slope. The runway surface had softened from snowmelt and runoff, leading to a condition where the pilot felt slight sinking but not muddiness.
Takeoff and Accident Sequence
The pilot performed a soft field takeoff technique by pulling the yoke back to reduce friction from the nose wheel. At about 40 miles per hour (mph), the airplane hit several ruts and slowed down. The pilot initiated rotation at 60 mph, but could not gain sufficient altitude prior to hitting a tree at the departure end of the runway.
Damage
The collision with the tree caused substantial damage to the airplane.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane.