Incident Overview
According to the pilot, before takeoff he observed an approaching storm but estimated the wind to be light and variable for the takeoff roll. The airplane was slow to accelerate and reached the rotation speed of 50 knots halfway down the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off and initially maintained an altitude a few feet above the runway, but then lost altitude at the end of the runway. The airplane struck the ground and subsequently nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Weather Conditions
A few minutes after the accident, the pilot reported that it began to rain. The airport density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be approximately 9,000 feet, which is 1,000 feet above the manufacturer's recommended maximum takeoff altitude as outlined in the Pilot's Operating Handbook. The weather observation facility located on the field reported that 3 minutes before the accident the wind was a left quartering tailwind at 5 knots with respect to the airplane's takeoff runway direction. Shortly after the accident, the wind was a left quartering tailwind at 22 knots, gusting to 32 knots.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal flight.