Accident Summary
The aircraft crash landed during a touch-and-go landing maneuver. According to the pilot, the aircraft encountered windshear or a violent downdraft and would not climb. The pilot did not specify why he chose to perform a touch-and-go landing with nine passengers on board. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft struck several citrus trees at a shallow angle of descent approximately 1,200 feet from the end of the runway, traveled 150 feet through the trees, and came to a stop 350 feet further on the ground.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that after touchdown, he raised the flaps and set takeoff power. At 103 knots with 500 feet of runway remaining, the aircraft was lifted off. At about 150 feet above ground level while climbing, he began raising the landing gear, but the aircraft started to sink, so he left the gear down. He observed trees moving violently. He felt caught in windshear due to a sharp drop in airspeed and the aircraft ceasing to perform. As the aircraft continued sinking, he decided to execute a controlled crash to save the passengers.
Witness Account
A witness reported that the pilot took off without enough power. The witness saw the airplane with its nose high and tail low, then lost sight of it as it entered the trees.
Probable Cause
The official findings list the probable cause as an in-flight collision with terrain/water during the takeoff initial climb phase. The contributing factors were the pilot's poor judgment, premature lift-off, inadequate distance, and below-minimum airspeed (VLof).