Incident
On April 21, 2012, about 1810 mountain daylight time, a Beech P35, registration N8518M, sustained substantial damage when it hit an airport perimeter fence and impacted the terrain during takeoff from runway 10 at Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was en route to Front Range Airport (FTG) in Denver, Colorado.
According to the pilot, standard run-up procedures were performed prior to departure. The propeller was cycled as required and placed in the full forward position before takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot focused solely on the airspeed indicator, noting that the airplane was slow to gain airspeed. The airspeed needle entered the white band and then reached the bottom of the green band by the end of the 4,800-foot runway. The airplane became airborne but did not gain altitude. When the pilot saw the perimeter fence, he increased the pitch, and shortly afterward heard the stall warning sound. The airplane struck the fence and then impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The engine mounts were broken, and the engine partially separated from the airframe.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane's fuel system and found no anomalies. The propeller control was found approximately 1.5 inches from the full forward position at the accident site. The propeller control had full travel, and the locking feature functioned properly. No anomalies were noted during the overall examination of the airplane.
The engine examination revealed that the magnetos produced spark on all leads. The spark plugs exhibited normal wear and coloration. A compression test was performed with the following results: cylinder 1: 66/80 psi; cylinder 2: 62/80 psi; cylinder 3: 65/88 psi; cylinder 4: 69/88 psi; cylinder 5: 74/88 psi; and cylinder 6: 70/88 psi.