Incident Overview
A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a soft field takeoff from a 2,340-foot grass runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane did not accelerate as anticipated by the instructor. After lifting off, the trees at the end of the runway became an immediate concern. The instructor made a slight turn to the right, aiming for a section with shorter trees, but the airplane failed to climb out of ground effect.
Sequence of Events
As the airplane approached the runway's end, it struck a barbed wire fence. Immediately after crossing the fence, the airplane impacted the ground and came to a stop in an upright position. An examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to both the fuselage and wings.
Performance Review
A review of the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) was conducted. For conditions matching the accident—takeoff from a grass field, no wind, flaps up, at 2,000 feet mean sea level and 88°F—the POH indicated a ground roll of 1,700 feet and a distance of 2,827 feet required to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The instructor noted that the airplane's actual performance did not match these POH figures.