Accident Overview
A pilot attempted to depart from a private grass airstrip that was no longer maintained. The runway measured 2,600 feet in length and was covered with grass 2 to 3 feet tall. The pilot had landed at this airstrip the day before the accident flight.
Sequence of Events
On the day of the accident, the pilot executed two takeoff attempts using a "short-field" technique. During the first attempt, the airplane passed the pilot's predetermined "No-Go" point on the runway, prompting an aborted takeoff. For the second attempt, the airplane accelerated to 60 to 65 miles per hour and lifted off, but then descended back onto the runway beyond the "No-Go" point. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the runway end and struck trees.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.