What happened
During a personal flight, a twin-engine aircraft began its takeoff roll without any initial mechanical issues or abnormal indications. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 75 to 80 knots, the pilot initiated a slow rotation by pulling back on the yoke, which allowed the plane to begin an initial ascent. Following the retraction of the landing gear, the pilot observed that the aircraft had ceased to climb and the airspeed remained at 80 knots. Shortly thereafter, the stall warning horn activated.
The aircraft subsequently struck a group of trees located roughly 0.25 miles from the runway. The impact caused a fire that resulted in the total destruction of the plane. The pilot was able to exit the wreckage and sustained minor injuries.
Findings
Data regarding the aircraft's performance indicates that the minimum control speed was 86 knots, while the required speed for breaking ground and maintaining a climb was 106 knots. The accident was likely caused by the pilot attempting to rotate and climb at a speed below the necessary threshold for safe flight, preventing the aircraft from clearing the trees at the end of the runway.