Event Description
Prior to takeoff, the pilot performed an engine run-up and confirmed all systems were normal. During the takeoff roll, the pilot rotated the airplane at 67 knots and subsequently retracted the landing gear. Shortly after rotation, the airplane began to descend back toward the runway. The pilot applied aft elevator control in an attempt to arrest the descent, but the airplane continued to settle. The pilot reported that he "kept trying to fly higher" as the propeller struck the runway surface. Following the propeller strike, the pilot managed to keep the airplane airborne. However, when he realized the airplane would not climb, he directed the airplane toward a grassy area. The airplane then impacted terrain, rotated to the right, and came to rest upright in a ravine adjacent to the runway.
Postaccident Examination
A witness who was a pilot reported that he thought the airplane stalled during the takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.