Accident Overview
The pilot, who had performed 56 previous flights in the accident airplane from the same airport in similar atmospheric conditions and at weights equal to or exceeding the accident takeoff, reported that the trees surrounding the airport and departure ends of each runway are "extremely dangerous" and provide "few, if any, options" for an uneventful aborted takeoff.
Takeoff and Abort
During the accident takeoff on runway 30 (2,394 feet long by 48 feet wide, dry asphalt), the airplane performed within the pilot’s expectations initially. However, after rotation, the airplane was not climbing "normally" nor accelerating to best angle climb speed at the rate previously experienced. The pilot aborted the takeoff while the airplane was within a "few" feet above the runway because he did not want to risk hitting the trees at the departure end of the runway.
Post-Abort Sequence
The airplane overran the runway with the application of "full" braking and impacted the trees. A post-crash fire then ensued, consuming the airplane. The pilot was uninjured; the passenger received minor injuries.
Pilot's Remarks and Flight Manual Data
The pilot stated that he can only "speculate" that something changed after takeoff rotation that affected airplane performance. The airplane flight manual states that the takeoff distance over a 50-foot obstacle is about halfway down the runway, and the calculated landing ground roll is within the remaining runway distance. The pilot noted that he used 10 degrees of flaps for the takeoff rather than the 25 degrees of flaps cited in the airplane flight manual for a short field takeoff. The flight manual does not contain takeoff performance data for a 10-degree flap setting.